The UCA Police Department would like to encourage everyone to make good decisions and be safe the remainder of the semester! Safety and security is the responsibility of everyone. We depend on each and every member of the university community to take an active role in maintaining our excellent quality of life on campus by following a few simple precautions.
NATIONAL CAMPUS SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH
September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) and UCAPD is partnering with the UCA Community to provide a full schedule of events and programming to raise awareness and promote safety with the start of the new academic year.
PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS 2014
Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week
- 80 Proof Extravaganza – Alumni Circle- Wednesday, September 3-
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
–Members of the RSO, 80 Proof will coordinate games such as putt putt golf, bowling, ping pong, and the SGA Pedal Carts for students to participate in while wearing the vision impairment goggles. There will be giveaways!
- The Truth About Alcohol Video- Student Health Center 307- Thursday, September 4- X- Period
–Explains what alcohol and drugs are and what they do to your body and mind – told by people who’ve been there, done them and survived to tell about it.
- UCAAlertSystem TEST- A cell phone near you!-Thursday, September 4-
X-Period
–In the event of an emergency which poses an immediate threat to the campus community, the UCA Police Department will use the UCAAlert system to notify the campus community through text/voice messages and email.
Hazing Prevention Awareness Week
- Don’t Haze Me Bro! Banner Fingerprinting- Amphitheater-
Tuesday, September 9- X-Period
–In observance of Hazing Prevention Awareness Week students, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to put their fingerprint on a banner and make a pledge to do their part to stop hazing. The banner will be a focal point during the awareness walk on Thursday.
- Don’t Haze Me Bro! Awareness Walk- Football Practice Field-
Thursday, September 11-X-Period
– In observance of Hazing Prevention Awareness Week students, faculty, and staff will take to the streets to show UCA’s commitment to the prevention of hazing.
- Haze Documentary- College of Business Auditorium-
Thursday, September 11- 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
-This compelling video addresses the national crisis of alcohol abuse and hazing on college campuses. In September 2004, Pledge Gordie Bailey died from alcohol poisoning after passing out on a couch in his fraternity house following a hazing initiation at the University of Colorado.
Theft Prevention and Personal Safety Week
- Operation ID, Smart 911, Active Shooter Video- COB Auditorium-
Tuesday, September 16- X-Period
-Students, faculty, and staff will receive information on how to register valuables in Operation ID, the benefits of Smart 911, and have the opportunity to view the video Shots Fired on Campus: When Lightning Strikes! UCAPD is presenting this 20 minute video that teaches students realistic strategies for dealing with an active shooter situation on campus.
- Brake for Bears!- A Crosswalk Near You!
Wednesday, September 17- 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
-UCAPD and the Student Government Association are once again teaming up to promote pedestrian safety through the Brake for Bears campaign. Volunteers and UCA Police officers will encourage safety awareness throughout the morning at various crosswalks around campus by distributing pedestrian safety information and, while supplies last, official Brake for Bears t-shirts.
- Situational Awareness Class- Student Center 225-
Tuesday, September 18- X- Period
-Students, faculty, and staff will receive information on the meaning of situational awareness and how to be proactive about personal safety.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week
- Stand Up and Speak Out Video- Student Health Center 307-
Tuesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 25- X-Period
-UCAPD is partnering with the UCA Counseling Center to present this 20 minute video that addresses acquaintance rape and is specifically designed for college students.
- Clothes Line Project- Amphitheater-
Tuesday, September 23- 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
–The UCA Counseling Center and the Conway Women’s Shelter presents this awareness program that focuses on domestic violence. T-shirts designed by survivors of domestic violence are displayed and the consequence (sometimes deadly) of domestic violence is outlined.
- He Said/She Said- Ida Waldron Auditorium-
Wednesday, September 24- 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
–The Office of Diversity and Community presents this interactive program that solicits input from the audience as to what constitutes a sexual assault. A factual story of a sexual assault will be told and the outcome revealed after audience input. The event will be staffed by Diversity and Community, UCA Counseling Center, and UCAPD.
- Self-Defense Class- Student Center 205A (Ballroom)-
Thursday, September 25- 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
-Students, faculty, and staff will receive information on the meaning of self-defense and the laws that can protect them. Verbal Judo will be discussed and there will be hands-on instruction.
Don’t Forget!!!!
SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER SO WATCH YOUR STUFF!!
UCAPD will partner with Housing & Residence Life and Torreyson Library staff for Operation Gotcha! Officers and authorized 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.
Prescription Drug Take Back
On Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the UCAPD and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the campus community an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes and residence halls of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the UCAPD. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
UCA is a safe campus and it takes all of us working together to keep it that way!
These programs and events would not be possible without the support and collaborative efforts of the following departments and student groups:
Housing and Residence Life
Student Wellness and Development
Student Life
Greek Life
UCA Counseling Center
Diversity and Community
Physical Plant
SGA
All Greek Council
80 Proof
UCA Athletics
UCA Band
Torreyson Library
Executive Staff
DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER
The University of Central Arkansas Police Department is joining with law enforcement throughout the nation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign August 15 to September 1, 2014.
The strong nationwide impaired driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb alcohol impaired driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
We will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.
It is illegal in Arkansas to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter. Despite these laws, each year more than 10,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was impaired.
UCA PD recommends these simple tips for a safe Labor Day weekend:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement;
- And remember, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Here are some SOBERING Facts:
- On Labor Day Weekend in 2012, almost four in ten fatal crashes involved a drunk driver.
- Each year on average, more than 10,000 people die on our roadways as a result of drunk driving. That would equal 20 jumbo jets crashing each year.
- An average of one drunk driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes in 2012.
- In 2012, three out of four of those arrested for driving under the influence were mail.
- Nearly two out of three fatal crashes between midnight and 3:00 a.m. involved a drunk driver.
- In the last five years, over 750 people have been killed in drunk driving crashes during Labor Day weekend.
The end of summer should not mean the end of your life.
For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at www.nhtsa.gov/drivesober.
Help a Friend In Need
If you see someone posting distressing messages or content on Facebook or other social media, or behaving dramatically different than usual, it may signal that person needs help. If you have a gut feeling that something is not right, you should act on it.