Safety on Campus is a Partnership Between Students, Staff, Faculty and Emergency Providers; Relies on Good Communication and Responsible Actions, MU Officials Say
University of Missouri hosting Safe Mizzou 2013 from Sept. 16-20
September 12th, 2013
By Jerett Rion
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Safety, which is the No. 1 priority on the University of Missouri campus, must be a partnership between first responders and the public, MU officials say. In an effort to make MU students and faculty more aware of various safety tools available and to help them take responsibility for their personal safety, MU is hosting “Safe Mizzou 2013,” a week of events, including a safety fair, a simulation of a burning room and personal threat training.
“The MU Police Department (MUPD) — which patrols the campus 24 hours a day/seven days a week — works to ensure a peaceful quality of life, establish partnerships with the community and create a safe learning environment for all students, staff and faculty at MU,” said Brian Weimer, captain with the MUPD. “However, even the most extensive initiatives cannot succeed without the awareness and cooperation of the community members who work, study and live on campus.”
Several tools are available to campus officials and the community that help maintain safety on campus, including:
- A mass notification system that uses email, text and phone messages
- “Blue Light” phones placed in strategic locations across campus with a direct link to the MUPD dispatch center
- A dedicated website – Mualert.missouri.edu – that is activated during any type of emergency
- Security cameras, which are placed in strategic locations throughout campus.
Other programs, including active threat training, rape awareness courses, defense courses for women, alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs, and bicycle registration are made available to students, faculty and staff. Finally, campus safety officials are constantly reviewing new technology and making use of it as it becomes available. For example, later this academic year, more than 200 emergency beacons will be installed inside buildings throughout campus.
“We have many programs and tools, all of which are available to our campus community and many are free,” said Mike Laughlin, crime prevention officer with MUPD. “We also have strong relationships with the City of Columbia Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other agencies that would assist in an emergency response. However, it takes the entire community to prevent crime and tragedies.”
The MUPD is a fully commissioned police department that works very closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to provide proactive law enforcement services to the MU campus. In addition, MUPD is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, both of which aim to improve the delivery of public safety services primarily by: maintaining a body of standards developed by public safety practitioners; covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.
Safe Mizzou 2013 will begin on Monday, Sept. 16.
For more information, please visit: http://ehs.missouri.edu/work/pdf/emergencyinfo-students.pdf. Events that will take place include:
Monday, Sept. 16
- Personal Health and Safety Fair
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kuhlman Court
Learn about ways to improve personal health and make the campus safer by visiting the fair. Free pizza and first aid kits will be distributed.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
- Pedestrian and Vehicle Education (PAVE)
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Lowry Mall
With a focus on transportation safety issues, this festival includes the “Convincer” (a crash simulator that allows the participant to experience the effect of a crash while wearing a seat belt), bike registration and repair, STRIPES and more. Also included will be information on bike safety, crosswalk etiquette, distracted driving, and Tiger Line, a bus route available to students.
- Citizen’s Response to Active Threat Training
5:30 p.m.
Stotler Lounge III, Memorial Union
Trainers will teach participants integrated strategies on what to do in the event of an active shooter/violent intruder incident. The training is free, but RSVP is required at TLBCPF@mail.missouri.edu.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
- 13th Annual Fire Factor and Room Burn
11:50 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Lowry Mall & Speaker’s Circle
Enjoy fire safety events such as rides in a bucket on a 100-foot fire truck ladder, fire extinguisher use training, and a fire fighter challenge obstacle course in full gear. At 11:50 a.m., a simulated room burn will demonstrate the speed and ferocity of fire. Free pizza, drinks, and t-shirts will be distributed.
Thursday, Sept. 19
- Safety Walk
7:45 p.m.
Leadership Auditorium, MU Student Center
The 40th Annual Safety Walk is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff from different campus departments to identify any structural and environmental safety concerns on campus. Participants will be assigned to specific parts of campus to record any safety concerns.
Friday, Sept. 20
- Mizzou After Dark: Late Night Scavenger Hunt
7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Bengal Lair, Memorial Union
This year’s hunt is presented in cooperation with Safe Mizzou 2013. Admission is free for MU student with an ID. $5 for the general public. Children under 17 are not allowed. For more information visit: stufftodo.missouri.edu.
Safe Mizzou 2013 is sponsored by Residential Life, the MSA/GPC Department of Student Activities, the Columbia Fire Department, the Environmental Leadership Office, MUPD, Make IT Safe–Division of IT, Environmental Health & Safety, the Wellness Resource Center, the Office of Student Conduct, Department of Student Life, the Counseling Center, RSVP Center, Student Legal Services, Tiger Line, the MU Sustainability Office, and STRIPES.