UGA Parents Demand Action After Tragic Murder Sparks Call for Enhanced Campus Security

• Share on:

A nonprofit organization called SafeD Athens, founded by University of Georgia parents, has been advocating for enhanced campus security for years, but their suggestions were largely ignored until the tragic murder of nursing student Laken Riley in February. Following her death, which was the first homicide on the UGA campus in over two decades, UGA committed $7.3 million for safety improvements, yet co-founder Lynn Gainous expressed frustration that these measures came too late. On Wednesday, Jose Ibarra was found guilty of Riley's murder and sentenced to life in prison, reigniting discussions on campus safety and the need for further security enhancements at the university.