Students expressed frustration at how the University told them of an attempted armed robbery on campus Monday night.

“We should have been told sooner,” said Forrest Sherman, a freshman from Powder Springs. “My friend was studying at the SLC until midnight and walked back by herself.”

The Arch News list serv, which includes students, faculty and staff, received an e-mail 12 hours later from University Police. The e-mail explained that a student had been held at gunpoint by two men near the administration building. The e-mail said there has been a rise in the number of armed robberies in Georgia and the Athens area.

“It’s a visibility issue,” said Daniel Nooromid, a junior from Atlanta who police identified as the victim of the attempted robbery. “I wouldn’t think to walk home on Jackson Street when it is supposed to be a safe alternative, but maybe it’s not.”

Nooromid told the men who approached that he “didn’t have anything to give them in a manner that would attract attention,” according to the police report. The men fled.

“We spend money on UGAAlert, so why not on additional security guards or those blue boxes on campus?” said Katy Brim, a senior from Gainesville. She also questioned the reason for UGAAlert if it wasn’t used Monday.

The e-mail was not sent sooner because the robbery was an isolated incident, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said in an interview Tuesday. The goal of the e-mail was to alert students to the rise in armed robberies rather than to serve as an incident alert, he said.

Ashley Miller, a senior from Snellville, expressed concern about the increase.

“There is no security on campus. Police drive around the perimeter, but no one is actually walking on campus – or at least I haven’t seen them,” she said. The incident happened while students were at the library, “so they should have security guards or something as people walk to their cars.” For students who travel at night, University Police offer the escort van service, said Jean Cleveland, public relations specialist for the Main Library.

“We always have security in the building anytime it is open to assist patrons and protect collections,” she said. “We make it a point to be aware of what’s going on outside the building, but travel to and from is outside our jurisdiction.”

Students may make lifestyle changes after reading the e-mail, such as walking in groups, Williamson said.

“I walk home from downtown or the SLC at 1 a.m. sometimes,” said Ashley Gravlin, a freshman from Louisville, Ky. “An armed robbery may have made me think twice.”

Two witnesses contacted police Tuesday, Williamson said.

Nooromid told The Red & Black the offenders were black males in their early 20s wearing all black clothing. One is 5’10″ and the other is 6′, both between 150 and 180 pounds.

Williamson asks anyone with information to contact the police department at 706-542-2200.