On the one-year anniversary of track star Lauren McCluskey’s murder and after continuing protests by students, University of Utah President Ruth Watkins on Tuesday made one of her strongest statements yet — acknowledging that the tragedy has “revealed problems” with safety on campus.
Her comment on Twitter is her first direct response to students after they walked out of class one day earlier in protest over how the school and its police force handled McCluskey’s case. And it comes, too, as many at the school have become more vocal about their concerns over the past few months, with rallies at a football game and an academic senate meeting, a public statement in opposition to the university and a vigil Tuesday night.