The University of Central Arkansas will observe National Campus Safety Awareness Month with a series of events designed to promote safety awareness among students, faculty and staff.
UCA Police Department is partnering with the UCA Counseling Center, Student Wellness & Development, and the Student Government Association to provide programing on issues including sexual assault, underage drinking, active shooter, and pedestrian safety.
“This is our third year to prepare programing for National Campus Safety Awareness Month,” said UCA Police Chief Larry James. “We believe this is a great way to start the academic year and encourage our campus community to begin thinking about safety and security issues that are relevant on college campuses across our nation.”
Each Tuesday, the police department will broadcast the video “Shots Fired on Campus: When Lightning Strikes” at the College of Business auditorium at 1:40 p.m. The video is presented as part of UCA’s emergency preparedness initiatives to help educate UCA students, staff and faculty about what they can do to survive in the event of a shooter on campus.
Information on student wellness and development, campus safety and drug and alcohol awareness will be provided each Wednesday at the Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A video on sexual assault awareness will be shown each Thursday at 1:40 p.m. in the Student Health Center 307.
Police will also conduct “Operation Gotcha” this month. Officers, Housing & Resident Life staff, and Torreyson staff will check residence halls and the library for unattended valuables and unlocked doors. Students will receive a “Gotcha” tag if items are found unattended.
Operation ID Day will be held Sept. 25 from 2 to 8 p.m. in all residence halls and apartments. Officers will set up stations for students to register valuables. Operation ID is a nationwide program designed to discourage burglary or theft. Students can register their valuables, which will increase law enforcement’s chances of recovery and easy identification of stolen property.
“Brake for Bears!” campaign will be held Sept. 26 from 8 a.m. to noon. UCA police and volunteers will distribute educational fliers to pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists at various crosswalks. Volunteers are needed to hand out fliers. Those interested in volunteering should contact Arch Jones Jr. at the UCAPD at 450-3111.
“UCA is a safe campus and it takes all of us working together to keep it that way. The events during National Campus Safety Awareness Month are designed to convey that message to our students, faculty, and staff,” said Arch Jones Jr., director of organizational and community services. “Campus safety is everyone’s business.”
