One year later: Owens interviewed on Burk anniversary

On March 4, 2008, Auburn University freshman Lauren Burk of Marietta, Ga., was kidnapped and murdered in a crime that attracted national attention and sent two communities into mourning. Within a week, Courtney L. Lockhart was charged with her murder. He is now awaiting trial.

As the anniversary approaches, Melvin Owens, executive director of security and public safety at Auburn University, sat down for an interview with Opelika-Auburn News report Brittany Whitley. He was prohibited from talking specifically about the case because of a judicial gag order.

Slideshow: Remembering Lauren Burk

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Here is the interview: 

Whitley: Could we have another Lauren Burk case?
Owens: There’s a real simple answer to that question. In the society in which we live, it’s virtually impossible to prevent random acts of violence. We can do the best we can, but given our open society, it’s impossible to totally protect everyone from acts of violence. I think that we’ve made every attempt we could, or we’re making every attempt we can, to ensure that we lessen the likelihood of that. But we also have to notice that ... a lot of people who believe it (campus) is a safe haven. “Okay, we can come here and unlock our doors and do all these things.” But it’s a slice of the real world. The problems that are present other places are also present here in some form.

Whitley: How does that make you feel, that it could happen again?
Owens: At the end of that day, you would hope that you’ve done all you can do within your power to lessen the likelihood of it. You continue searching for answers and looking for possible innovations that will assist you in doing your job, but untimely you’ve got to do what you can do and learn from things that happen.

Whitley: What are some of the upgrades and increases in security on campus?
Owens: It’s always important that we note that Auburn University was in the midst of making security changes before the Burk incident. We’ve taken a systematic approach in trying to identify weaknesses and moving toward rectifying those situations … We had the campus shuttle system (a shuttle students can call to get a safe ride anywhere on campus) in operation before then, and after the Burk incident what we did was extend the hours. Normally, (the shuttle) operated from 6 at night to 3 in the morning. What we did was increase the hours from 3 a.m. up to 7 a.m. which would then coincide with regular shuttle bus transportation.
Cameras, we had cameras in place then but what we’ve tried to do is take a systematic approach and putting more cameras in. There have been technological advances in cameras. It’s enabled us to do some other things that before we would not have been able to do.
Plus, it’s increased educational programming in that we got to get the message out that everyone has a part in protection, that everybody has to, first of all, not only look out for themselves but for their neighbors, their roommates, their suite mates and that if there are things that happen that are out of the ordinary or that seem suspicious, we’ve got to make sure we contact the proper authorities. Take nothing for granted. You know I’m an older person, so I can vaguely remember being in college. At that age you think you’re invincible, that things don’t really affect you but we’ve got to understand that all of us have got to be partners in crime prevention.

Whitley: Does letting people know about security upgrades and increases work as a deterrent?
Owens: Sure, I think it has some deterrent effect, that there is a possibility that cameras will be placed. But the second part of that is that we still would suggest that cameras are not the total answer … We have to be on our guard, we have to understand what’s going on. We have to make sure that we are alert and vigilant in our security posture, because the cameras don’t replace common sense and vigilance and alertness … It is a tool to be utilized, assisting that ensuring places are safe, but it’s not the total answer.

Whitley: What do you think about the Courtney Lockhart case still not going to court yet?
Owens: I have no comments on that.

Whitley: What do you say to students and parents when they ask about safety on campus?
Owens: Standard spiel would be: “We’re glad to have you at Auburn University … Know that we will do all in our power in to assist you to make sure you are safe and secure … We invite you to participate in this process with us.” (We) give common sense tips — not walking alone, buddy system, emergency phone placements, campus shuttle phone number (to call for safe rides), don’t take chances. Just common sense rules that will assist them in ensuring the likelihood of their security.

Whitley: What has the case meant to you personally?
Owens: It’s very difficult to see a young person who’s just starting life really, to see that life snuffed out. It’s difficult watching any death, but certainly a young person who has so much potential, whose future is bright, and to have that ended unnecessarily is a difficult thing…

Whitley: Is it something you think about a lot, a year later?
Owens: I think you view it in the context of this death should not be in vain, that there’s some lessons we need to learn from it, things we need to take from it. How do we use this bad situation to make things better? How do we take something positive from this act? And assist in lessening the likelihood of this happening again.

Whitley: What do students say? Do they bring it up?
Owens: You don’t hear a lot about it.

Whitley: Do you feel like there’s a enough man power to protect campus?
Owens: Let me ask you a question, what’s enough manpower? New York has 30,000 cops. You can put a cop on every corner, but if someone is committed to doing a crime, it will happen. And so that’s why I’ve said it takes police officers, security personnel, citizens, technology, education all working together to create a safe environment.