University intensifying efforts to educate students on crime

COLUMBUS – As students return to campus, The Ohio State University is redoubling its summer-long efforts to encourage students to lock their doors and windows to protect themselves from home invasions in light of the series of assaults that have taken place off-campus. The university is fully cooperating with Columbus Police in its investigation and public awareness campaigns.

At a news conference today, Vice President for Student Affairs Bill Hall outlined the university’s initiatives to alert students to protect themselves from the risk of assault. “We have been notifying students all summer of the need to be extra vigilant – through posters, web messages, door-to-door visits and media interviews,” Hall said. “Now, with thousands more students returning to the neighborhoods, we are stepping up our efforts to inform and educate.”

The university has developed a web page
http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/news/, linked to the university home page, with crime alert, safety tips and a list of resources available, including free self-defense and rape prevention classes. This weekend, all students, faculty and staff will receive emails alerting them to the danger and offering safety tips. This Friday, Student Affairs staff and other university volunteers will walk through neighborhoods, knocking on doors, talking with students and handing out safety literature.

Students arriving for residence hall move-in on Saturday will also receive safety fliers and brochures. On Monday night, resident advisers will hold mandatory floor meetings where the issue will be discussed at length.

In addition, the university is placing ads in the Lantern all next week.

Hall said that these back-to-school efforts are in addition to the work of Off-Campus Student Services staff members, who have been working in neighborhoods all summer with both residents and landlords. “Secure locks, trimmed shrubbery and appropriate lighting are all part of keeping a neighborhood safe,” Hall said.

Staff also has conducted many safety audits of apartments at students’ request and recommended ways to improve their safety.

The university has long been involved in promoting safety in the campus area, Hall said. The university is a founder and co-sponsor of the Community Crime Patrol, which provides extra eyes and ears to police in the area. A Student Safety Service, supervised by OSU Police, provides walking or van escorts to students, faculty and staff after dark. Campus buses run routes into the neighborhoods, including late night and on weekends. Emergency phones have been installed and maintained on- and off-campus for several years. And on Friday and Saturday nights, OSU Police officers team with Columbus Police in the Neighborhood Patrol, which primarily focuses on safety issues and crime prevention.

“Until this suspect is caught, students need to be particularly vigilant,” Hall said. “We cannot say too often: ‘Lock your doors and windows; don’t open the door unless you know the person on the other side; and notify Columbus Police immediately if you see suspicious activity.’ Working together, we can prevent further assaults from happening.”

Following is a list of the university safety resources available to students, faculty and staff:
Rape Education and Prevention Program, 464 Ohio Union, 292-0479
http://multiculturalcenter.osu.edu/repp/index.htm
§Free self-defense classes for women
§Support and services for rape survivors

Office of Off-Campus Student Services, 342 Ohio Union, 292-0100
www.osuoffcampus.com
§Safety information
§Buckeyes Watch block watch program
§Help in locating housing and advice on choosing a safe apartment
§Help in finding roommates

Ohio State University Police Department, Blankenship Hall, 292-2121
(9-1-1 for emergencies—from campus phones.)
www.ps.ohio-state.edu/police
§Educational programs on safety and crime prevention
§Free self-defense classes for all students
§Officers will also speak to groups about safety
§Safety literature

Columbus Police, 645-4545 (9-1-1 in emergencies)
www.columbuspolice.org

Student Safety Service, 292-3322
§Free evening and late night escorts to students, faculty and staff, either walking or by van.
§Call or go to www.ps.ohio-state.edu/sss/index2.htm for times and areas served.

CABS (Campus Area Bus Service), 292-9341
§Free late night bus service in university area and shuttle to and from remote campus parking lots. www.tp.ohio-state.edu/CABS for schedules and routes.

Student Housing Legal Clinic, 345 Ohio Union, 247-5853
www.law.ohio-state.edu/shlc/
§Advice and assistance in dealing with landlord-tenant issues
§Individual consultations and educational materials and programs

Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio
§Services to survivors of sexual assaults
§Information for those wanting to learn more about related safety issues
§All calls are confidential
§Education office—566-5227
§Help Line - 267-7020

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, 645-TIPS
§Confidential reporting of information about this and other crimes.