A Reminder of CU Safety Precautions and Community Resources

From: Administrative E-Memo (memofrom@Colorado.EDU)
Date: Sun Mar 27 2011 - 01:05:05 MDT

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    Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 01:05:05 -0600 (MDT)
    From: Administrative E-Memo <memofrom@Colorado.EDU>
    Subject: A Reminder of CU Safety Precautions and Community Resources
    

    TO: CU-Boulder students

    FROM: Office of the Dean of Students
             CU Police Department

    SENDER: Deb Coffin

    DATE: March 28, 2011

    SUBJECT: A Reminder of CU Safety Precautions and Community Resources

    On March 18, the Boulder community experienced a terrible crime on University
    Hill. Just before 2 a.m. last Friday morning, Todd Walker, a Colorado resident
    and University of New Hampshire student who was visiting Boulder, lost his life
    in what police describe as a botched robbery attempt. The suspect, a
    22-year-old male from Longmont, has been arrested and charged with first-degree
    murder.

    While such stranger assaults are rare in Boulder, people are advised if
    confronted by a robbery suspect to take the assailant seriously: cooperate and
    do not challenge an assailant. Be the best witness you can be, and do not
    prolong the situation - comply and end the encounter as soon as possible, then
    notify police immediately.

    In light of this tragedy, University of Colorado at Boulder officials are
    reminding students of important personal and community safety measures to keep
    in mind when they are out and about on campus and in the Boulder community.

    Among the tips advised by CU police and safety officials are:

    - Remember to use the buddy system. Don't walk home alone and don't leave
    friends alone while out at night.

    - Remember to close and lock doors and windows to help prevent burglaries and
    assaults.

    - Report all suspicious activity and persons by calling 9-1-1. In
    non-emergencies, call campus police at 303-492-6666 or Boulder police at
    303-441-3333.

    - When it comes to personal safety, it is always better to err on the side of
    caution by contacting one of the numbers listed above with concerns.

    - If you think somebody is following you, switch directions or cross the street
    and call 9-1-1. Walk toward an open store, restaurant or lighted house. If you
    are afraid, yell for help to attract the attention of others.

    - Have your car or house key in hand before you reach the door. Don't be
    searching for keys while you are walking.

    - Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

    - Remember that alcohol impairs judgment and the ability to recognize dangerous
    situations.

    - Tell your roommate/friends where you are going and when you expect to be back
    if you are going out by yourself.

    - Remember to use the party registration program for all parties. Party
    registration is open to all CU students in neighborhoods throughout the city of
    Boulder. Students can register parties at Off-Campus Student Services, UMC 313,
    Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon for a party on Friday or Saturday
    nights. Students must register in person and show their Buff One Card.

    - Don't be a passive bystander. If you see a crime in progress, call 9-1-1 and
    assemble a group to aid a victim.

    - All residence hall residents should be conscientious about any people trying
    to enter buildings without an escort or "tailgating," entering residence halls
    with a group of students. Doors leading to living areas in residence halls
    remain locked 24 hours a day and visitors must be escorted by a hall resident.

    - Most interpersonal violence is done to you by someone you know. Therefore, be
    prepared to intervene as a bystander, talk with friends about respecting
    personal boundaries and identifying warning signs when someone you know is
    intrusive or steps over the line.

    CU-Boulder community safety measures already in place include:

    - CU Police Department employs full-time, commissioned officers who patrol the
    campus and respond to reports of emergencies and crimes 24 hours a day, seven
    days a week. Students should call 9-1-1 for police, medical and fire
    emergencies both on and off campus, and 303-492-6666 for non-emergencies on
    campus and 303-441-3333 for non-emergencies off campus.

    - With input from the Safety Initiatives Coalition, the University of Colorado
    Student Government (CUSG) developed and administered a safety survey in spring
    2009.

    - The bystander intervention program was introduced during New Student
    Orientation 2009. The new presentation encourages students to take
    responsibility for the safety of peers and teaches the skills necessary to
    intervene in certain situations.

    - CU Facilities Management operates the Eyes and Ears Program, which makes all
    Facilities Management employees available as an emergency communication
    resource. If an employee witnesses an emergency or is flagged down, he or she
    will radio for help and stay close by until help arrives.

    - Campus officials encourage students to learn about the prevention of sexual
    assault and acquaintance rape and the resources that are available for victims.
    Trained professionals offer free, confidential information and counseling,
    including reporting options and advocacy. For information on prevention
    education, call the Gender Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator at
    303-492-5951.

    - Campus administrators encourage all students, faculty and staff to sign up
    for Campus Alerts to receive breaking news about campus emergencies. To access
    the system, the CU-Boulder community should go to http://www.colorado.edu/alerts/.

    - CU Facilities Management, working with the CU Police Department and other
    campus safety officials and safety advocates, twice a year completes a
    "lighting walk" audit of campus lighting and obstructions like bushes and
    brush. As a result, lighting has been added in several areas of campus to
    enhance safety.

    - There are more than 60 emergency phone kiosks located across the main campus,
    east campus, Williams Village and Bear Creek Apartments and in the Regent Drive
    and Euclid Avenue parking lots. Students and others can use them to connect
    directly to campus police to report crimes in progress, suspicious persons,
    medical emergencies or concerns about personal safety.

    - CU NightRide, created by CUSG, offers free, nighttime escorts to students,
    staff and faculty around campus and anywhere within the Boulder city limits. To
    request a ride, call 303-492-7233.

    - Community Health uses interactive education, peer-facilitated programs and
    campuswide campaigns to raise gender violence awareness and bystander
    intervention training. For information call 303-492-2937.

    - During orientation, new students learn about crime reporting and personal
    safety resources and how to obtain more safe-living tips in "Ralphie's Guide to
    Student Life" http://www.colorado.edu/ralphie/tag/safety/. Residence hall
    advisers, the CU Police Department and the Off-Campus Student Services office
    also can help students with safety issues.

    For more safety information, go to http://www.colorado.edu/safety.


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