Responding to concerns from students the Tasmania University Union (TUU) is organising a rally tomorrow to protest against violent attacks against students.

The rally has been receiving widespread media coverage with the TUU contacted today by ABC television and radio, WIN, Southern Cross, the Mercury, The Age and Heart FM. A story about the rally also appeared on Triple J news at 4pm.

The rally is on the Refectory Steps at the Union Building on Churchill Avenue at 12.30pm tomorrow.

There will be an open microphone at the rally for students to get up in front of the crowd and voice their concerns about the attacks.

There have been two violent attacks in the last week.

Both incidents involved students being attacked near the University at night, one on Grosvenor Street and one on View Street.

"It is vital that every student feel that they can come to University and feel safe on or around the campus," TUU Vice President (South) Saleh Bintalib said.

"The TUU condemns in the strongest terms any person who commits crimes of violence. Utas students need to stand together and say 'no' to violence."

"An attack on one Utas student is an attack on all students, because it shows us that we are all potential targets."

The University’s response has so far been limited to emails to students suggesting that anyone on campus at night needs to be vigilant and walk around in groups rather than alone.

An email from the Dean of Law Margaret Otlowski has also reassured law students that police are investigating these incidents and that University security are "looking into" increasing security patrols and installing security cameras.

The TUU was invited to a meeting with Tasmania Police yesterday. Tasmania Police outlined what they were doing in response to the attack, which includes an increase in patrols by plain clothes officers near the University at night.

"The TUU welcomes the police engaging with us on this matter and welcomes the increased police presence around campus", Mr Bintalib said.

The TUU Student Representative Council (SRC) convened last night to discuss what measures they might ask to be adopted, including safety proposals submitted by students.

The proposals from students included providing students with personal alarms to attract attention if they are attacked, more security patrols, better lighting and more security cameras, and more patrols by University Security.

"There needs to be more constructive communication between the University and the TUU on this issue and we want the University to take responsibility for the safety of all students," Mr Bintalib said.

To join the rally's Facebook group, click the following link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125337274146738&ref=ts

To read the Mercury website's story click the following link: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2010/05/11/145441_tasmania-news.html

By James Walker Julius Ross