Loopholes in the University of Indianapolis’s security system have led some students to question whether current measures adequately protect them on campus.
Students have reported that at certain doors equipped with an ADA-accessible button, card swipes are not required for entry. UIndy students say this poses a safety risk.
“This is 100% a safety risk,” junior social work major Kyla Blattner said. “Especially with the amount of homeless people who are around on campus, as sad as it is, they are looking for places to stay.”
Senior public health major Brenna Bastin agreed this poses a safety risk. If a random person sees a student utilize this loophole, then they now know how to get in.
According to UIndy Chief Brandon Pate, the issue occurs because the ADA button does not override the lock. If the lock were activated, the door would no longer be ADA accessible. Pate said the police department is working with facilities to purchase and install switches so those doors will operate similarly to residence hall entrances. He said the loophole should no longer be present once those changes are implemented. The police check card-access systems once a month, though facilities oversee the system as a whole.
Two months ago, the police began using drones to increase situational awareness on campus. Pate said the police are using technology as a force multiplier to assist with response and mitigation.
“[The drones] do have a huge impact on us,” Pate said. “If we get a call right now that says suspicious person in Key Stadium, let’s say we have an officer on a run, where our detective can put the drone up and kind of locate through the air visually.”
In 2023, the police launched the Guardian app, which provides instant access to campus police and was developed as a student-led initiative. The app sends messages directly to the officers’ phones and emails and functions as a text-based communication system.
“I really wish more students knew about it, had it downloaded and used it,” Pate said.
Crime on campus has seen a decrease over the past three years. Pate provided statistics for several categories, including aggravated assault, alcohol arrests, burglary and drug arrests. Aggravated assaults decreased from four in 2022 to zero in 2024, and alcohol arrests fell from five in 2022 to zero in 2024. Burglary cases dropped from nine in 2022 to zero in both 2023 and 2024, and drug arrests declined from six in 2022 to zero in 2024.
Students shared what additional measures would help them feel safer on campus. Blattner said increased lighting and locking all the buildings at set times would make a difference, and Bastin said she would like to see “more police security,” including officers stationed near the bus stop and in campus parking lots.
Upcoming security projects include additional cameras on campus and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies in areas such as Schwitzer Park and Smith Mall, Pate said. He added that the police recently applied for a grant to improve access control.
“We want your feedback,” Pate said. “A lot of people think that we don’t take it seriously, but there’s been real public safety improvements based on student feedback.”
To contact the UIndy Police Department, call 317-788-3386, and the station is located at 3920 S. Shelby St.
