MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Nearly one year to the day after Eliza Fletcher was abducted and later murdered in a Midtown Memphis neighborhood near the University of Memphis, the university announced nearly $5 million in security upgrades to make sure near-campus abductions never happen again.
The announcement came Thursday, ahead of Memphians' plans to "Finish Liza's Run," happening Friday morning at the time of Eliza's abduction.
The university announced the first phase of safety enhancements stemming from a $5 million appropriation by the Tennessee General Assembly to secure the campus and surrounding areas.
“Our Memphis community is facing a painful anniversary as we honor the life of Eliza Fletcher this week,” said U of M President Dr. Bill Hardgrave. “As Memphians gather to ‘Finish Liza’s Run,’ we are committed to working together to ensure our campus and surrounding areas contribute to a safer Memphis.”
The university said their phase one security enhancements are consistent with Hardgrave's plan to provide “second-to-none safety and security” and include:
- Increasing perimeter fencing and parking lot access controls
- Increasing LED lighting in parking lots and surrounding facilities
- Increasing and replacing mobile trailer units and patrol vehicles for greater presence on campus
- Increasing cameras and 24/7 monitoring around parking lots, buildings and campus entrances/exits
- Improving a comprehensive notification system to ensure emergency alerts reach all members of the campus community quickly
The university said members of the Tiger community and visitors to campus are encouraged to sign up for safety alerts by texting TIGERNATION to 888777.
“I think it’s a good thing, I think it’ll make me and everyone else feel safer about going around on campus, going to our classes and walking around at night,” said one University of Memphis student.
Another student said the safety enhancements will be an "upgrade for everyone including students and faculty" and "will put a lot of people’s minds at ease."
“I think there should be a couple more cameras because there is a couple blind spots throughout the campus," another student said. "I’ve only been here a week but I’m already noticing a couple blind spots,”
Fletcher was abducted on Sept. 2, 2022, and found dead several days later after a city-wide search. Her accused kidnapper and killer, Cleotha Abston, remains in jail awaiting trial.