USC Chinese students call for increased security

LOS ANGELES - Chinese students and scholars in University of Southern California (USC) on Tuesday released an open letter appealing for more effective efforts to ensure student safety.

In the open letter, addressed to USC President Chrysostomos Nikias, the USC Chinese Students and Scholars Association (USC CSSA) proposed a series of measures, including the installation of additional closely-monitored, street-oriented surveillance cameras and emergency call boxes.

The letter follows the death last week of 24-year-old graduate student Xinran Ji, who was attacked on Thursday as he walked home from a study group and was later found dead in his apartment.

"We respectfully request that the university administration carefully consider these requests in order to provide greater security for students, and to help improve the general public's opinion of the USC neighborhood as a safe place for students and for the public at large when attending events in the area," the USC CSSA said.

Four teenagers have been charged with murder. Ji's death marked the second deadly attack involving Chinese USC students. In April 2012, Ying Wu and Ming Qu were fatally shot during a robbery off campus.