By Ben Jenkins, Podcast Manager 

The arrest of four juveniles following an attack on three University of Cincinnati (UC) students near the Wingstop on Short Vine St. has brought more attention to safety around college campuses. 

The attack happened in the late hours of Sept. 30. Three UC students, two freshman and one sophomore, were going to get food on scooters when a group of eight to nine people approached them. The students said the attackers began hitting and kicking them before stealing their scooters and taking their belongings. 

Cincinnati police arrested four teenagers in connection to the attack. They are all facing aggravated assault charges. Two of the victims suffered concussions, and all three had severe bruising. 

“The recent attacks of students on Short Vine are raising serious concerns about the safety of the area around campus for students. This should be an area where students shouldn’t have to worry about getting harmed,” sophomore UC student Conner Hiss said. 

The Short Vine area is a very popular area for UC students, with many restaurants and businesses, as well as a large nightlife scene. 

Unfortunately, this has not been the only instance of violence near Cincinnati’s campus recently. In September, a man was shot in the stomach outside a restaurant on Short Vine St. Police later arrested a 25-year-old who was charged with felonious assault. 

Earlier in the semester, multiple shootings in the surrounding area an increase police presence around campus. In the time since these violent attacks, UC police have increased their patrols and deployed more officers during peak evening and weekend hours. They have also put out portable light towers to increase visibility on Short Vine St. 

In light of these incidents taking place at UC, safety has become a larger topic of conversation amongst the Xavier community.  

“Seeing the things that go on just ten minutes down the road is definitely a little worrying,” sophomore sports management major Andre Bradley said. 

The good news for Xavier students is that the Xavier University Police Department (XUPD) takes many different measures to ensure the safety of students. Patrolling campus and the surrounding neighborhoods 24/7 deter many possible threats to the community. 

XUPD also offers a pickup service to all Xavier students. If anyone feels unsafe anywhere in the general Cincinnati area, an officer can escort them back to campus, no questions asked. They offer this 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service has become even more important in the wake of the violence that has been occurring in the city. 

While the recent violence has taken place closer to UC, those events serve as a reminder for students across the city of Cincinnati to remain aware of their surroundings. Xavier students may not face the same safety concerns as those around the Short Vine area, but the close proximity of the two schools makes the issue difficult to ignore.