FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 21, 2003
CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119

CITY AGREES TO TURN ON SOME STREET LIGHTS NEAR DRAKE;
DRAKE LEADERS MATCH $500 REWARD OFFERED BY CRIME STOPPERS

Drake University officials learned today that the Des Moines city manager's office has granted the University's request to turn street lights back on in five locations near campus in an effort to improve public safety.

The city has notified MidAmerican Energy Co. to turn the lights back on and it's expected that the lights will be functioning within a few days. The locations of these are listed below:

• Two lights on 27th Street between Carpenter Avenue and Forest Avenue, an area near Jewett Residence Hall that has a high level of pedestrian traffic.
• One light on 27th Street between Forest and Clark that's adjacent to the pedestrian crosswalk leading to the Bell Center.
• One light in the 1100 block of 28th Street where Drake has three student cultural houses.
• Two lights on 30th Street between University and Forest that illuminate pedestrian crosswalks.
• One light on the south side of University Avenue near the driveway that serves Drake's School of Education (3206 University Ave.) and provides access to the City of Des Moines' Parks and Recreation Office.

"We're receiving excellent cooperation from not only the police department but other city departments as we review public safety issues," said Hans Hanson, chief of campus security at Drake. "Statistical studies show that good exterior lighting makes a campus safer."

In addition to asking the city to turn lights back on, Drake has surveyed its campus lights and fixed approximately 30 lights that had burned out or weren't functioning properly. A few lights remaining to be fixed will be taken care of as soon as new fixtures are received.

In addition to improving lighting, Drake officials are increasing the reward offered for information on the recent robberies in the Drake Neighborhood. Drake President David Maxwell and Provost Ron Troyer each made personal contributions of $250 today to match the Crime Stoppers reward announced earlier this week. Up to $1,000 is now available as a reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes.

"We're taking this situation very seriously and doing everything we can to put an end to it," President Maxwell said. "We hope this added reward will contribute to the safety of the Drake Neighborhood and encourage people with information to come forward. We're happy to do it."

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at (515) 223-1400.