When Northeastern wanted the housing information of all students living in Boston, they claimed it was for our safety.

When Northeastern police patrolled Mission Hill early in the semester to curb underage parties, they claimed it was for our safety.

Now with the rise of violence on Columbus Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue and at the Ruggles train station, they have still done absolutely nothing for our safety.

Three shootings have already occurred this semester in Northeastern’s Roxbury neighborhood, and there is no reason to believe they will cease anytime soon. So where is Northeastern’s Public Safety in this matter? Good question.

A number of students live in Davenport Commons, Coventry, Douglass Park, 780 Columbus Ave. and the surrounding side streets. Many students have called NUPD to report hearing shootings outside their window. Regardless of whether they are accurate or not, the seed of paranoia has been planted. Many students live in a dangerous neighborhood and they know it.

So what can Northeastern do?

Obviously, it’s impossible for police to know when and where shootings will occur, but given the crime inherent in these areas, it’s clear where these resources should be used. There should never be a time when a police officer is not patrolling the Ruggles or Massachusetts Avenue T stops. Given the promixity to the Columbus Avenue police station, local authorities should be able to completely safeguard the area.

Areas like Forsyth Street and outside of afterHOURS, often patrolled by NUPD, are not exactly hotbeds of criminal activity, and the resources of our resident police force could be better used where it’s needed.

The problem goes beyond Northeastern and throughout the city of Boston. Recently re-elected Mayor Thomas M. Menino, so aggressive in punishing college students for their role in the 2004 riots, stood by and watched as crime rates increased during his time in office.

What’s fascinating (and more than a little troubling) is the zeal with which the Boston police will face threats of riots and parties, but sit on their hands when it comes to the direct safety of the students. Given the staggering police presence for a Red Sox-Yankees game in September, it’s obvious to all that lack of manpower is not a concern.

Students aren’t asking for a daily presence of that magnitude, but they should feel safe walking from New York Pizza to his or her Davenport apartment.

Where are the priorities? Police in all capacities are fervent in their desire to prosecute underaged drinking, but somehow violent crimes continue to rise.

Of course, keeping students from getting shot isn’t as sexy as dragging a drunken freshman from a Mission Hill beer pong tournament, but wouldn’t it be nice for police to remember their mantra, something about serving and protecting.