Two Weeks After University Of Texas Murder, No Lights Along Darkened Homicide Path

AUSTIN, TX -- Two weeks after the murder of a University of Texas-Austin student -- killed by a runaway on a dark stretch of Waller Creek running through campus -- school officials have yet to install lighting along the darkened path.

Instead, campus officials will wait until summertime when Texas Department of Public Safety officials finish the results of a security assessment report requested by the university's president. The report is due to be concluded by the summer.

"I am prepared to take concrete steps to implement the findings and recommendations of the DPS review," Fenves said during an April 8 press conference confirming the identity of the murdered student. Haruka Weiser was killed just three days before as she walked back to her dorm after a night class.

Patch has been asking university officials if at least temporary lighting might be installed along the stretch of Waller Creek -- a dark stretch abundant with wildlife that many students avoid at night given the lack of adequate lighting.

Students have long complained of the lack of lighting along the creek-lined path, saying such illumination would make them feel safer when having to walk along that part of campus.

But J.B. Bird, a university spokesman, said no lights had been installed -- even after the homicide of a student. The portion of the creek where Haruka Weiser, an 18-year-old freshman from Portland, Ore. -- was killed has been closed off, though, he offered.

"The DPS assessment will determine the actions we take regarding lighting," Bird told Patch in an April 13 emailed response to questions. "In the meantime, the portion of Waller Creek where the incident occurred has been barricaded with no public access allowed."

But aside from that small portion of the creek where the tragedy occurred, that leaves about mile of creek that runs through the 40-mile campus, with its darkened, lush paths on either of the waterway. Historically a problem area -- prone to flooding and a lure for loitering -- the six-mile Waller Creek meanders from downtown onto the UT campus.

The portion of the creek running through the university grounds breaks up into two portions. The first section is between Dean Keeton and Martin Luther King Boulevard -- the latter artery being the heart of the campus. That stretch is three-quarters of a mile in length.

The second portion of the creek running through campus turns in an easterly direction, crossing Trinity Street, and is about 1/4-mile in length.

Sometimes, all it takes for people to be safe and to act as a deterrent for people intent on malicious or evil behavior under the cover of darkness are lights. Illumination -- even hastily purchased, inexpensive flood lights from Home Depot or another retailer -- can create peace of mind and even deter crime.

But the idea of securing at least temporary lighting to help make students feel safer on that part of the campus has apparently not been considered as an option. Meanwhile, female students Patch has spoken to continue to feel anxiety about the darkened portion of their campus.

To his credit, Fenves did request additional officers to patrol the area (some 50 extra city cops have been dispatched to the area for added security) since the murder. But the Waller Creek area remains dark, and university officials have done little to enlighten as to why this might be.

"The section that is barricaded off is from Winship Circle to 21st Street," Bird explained in a separate email. "The DPS assessment is due this summer. I don't know the answer to your question on lighting. Quite apart from recent events, the unversity regularly reviews and installs lighting, and as you know, our campus is enormous. So that's a tough question to answer."

Temporary lighting before summer ahead of an official study on overall safety. There's nothing opaque about the suggestion, yet no further enlightenment was forthcoming.

In the meantime, the young woman who died along the darkened stretch where she last walked is scheduled to be buried in her Oregon hometown this Saturday, her family announced.

The service for Haruka Weiser will be open to the public.

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