Campus Safety

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>I'm the parent of an incoming freshman. How worried should I be about the following alert?</p>

<hr>

<p>A MESSAGE FROM:
Joe Piersante, U-M Interim Chief of Police
Laura Blake Jones, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Holly Rider-Milkovich, Director U-M's Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center </p>

<p>TO: ALL STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF
DATE: 7/27/11
Recently, several serious assaults have been reported near the U-M campus.
At a news conference Wednesday, Ann Arbor Police Chief Barnett Jones said that while the police don’t know if the attacks are connected, we clearly "have a predator or predators operating in our community."
Officials from the Department of Public Safety and the Ann Arbor Police urged the community to be vigilant.
The recent reported assaults are very disturbing for all of us. The Department of Public Safety is working with the Ann Arbor Police as they investigate each of these off-campus incidents. Both agencies are increasing uniformed police patrols of these areas on and near central campus to increase visibility and ward off additional incidents.
The university is responding by taking action in a number of ways. Examples include:
• Increasing police on Central Campus during the late evening and early morning hours to both prevent and detect crime.
• Adding more patrols to the Central Campus. Ann Arbor Police are doing the same.
• Assigning extra detectives to work with Ann Arbor Police to help investigate each of these off-campus incidents.
• Providing additional safety and security information at new student orientation.
• Working even more closely with Ann Arbor Police, including additional information-sharing.
• Continuing to share crime prevention tips with the community through the media, crime alerts and the DPS website.
• Continuing to maintain our Emergency Blue Light phone system, including installation of phones around our newly constructed buildings.
It also is important to note that the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our Crisis Line (734-936-3333). SAPAC provides support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and stalking in the university community.
The university works as a partner with the AAPD, and together we are working to seamlessly provide the services our community members need.
We encourage all members of the campus community to follow strong crime prevention techniques:
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times. For example, don't wear earphones or talk on the phone when walking, for example.
• Walk with a trusted friend whenever possible.
• Reduce vulnerability by monitoring alcohol intake.
• Attempt to walk in well-lit, high-traffic areas.
• Keep apartment and car doors locked.
• Consider late-night transportation options, including taxi services. There are several options including a bus service that provides transportation from central or north campus. Search "night transportation options" from the U-M Gateway.
• Immediately report suspicious behavior to police. Police would rather respond to a tip that turns out to be OK than be called after suspects have fled the area.
DPS also issued two important reminders:
• For university students and staff, sign up for UM Emergency Alert. The system sends a text and voice mail to your phone and email if there is an urgent situation. You can sign up through Wolverine Access.
• The Emergency Blue Light system functions all across campus, including parking structures. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, all you need to do is lift the receiver and it rings directly into DPS. Even if no one speaks on the other end of the line, DPS will send an officer to that location.
AAPD released two composite sketches (click here) of suspects at today’s news conference. Please visit the DPS website for additional details (including previously released composite and reward info) as well as case updates as they develop.
If you have any information about the assaults, please contact the Department of Public Safety at (734) 763-1131 or the Ann Arbor Police Department Tip Line at (734) 794-6939 or <a href="mailto:tips@a2gov.org">tips@a2gov.org</a>. Individuals also may contact the Crime Stoppers Anonymous Tip Line at (800) SPEAK UP (800-773-2587).
For background and updated campus community messages, click here.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact our respective offices.</p>

2

<p>there’s no reason to be worried – ann arbor is a relatively safe place.</p>

<p>Obviously, your kid should use common sense when outside, especially when alone in unfamiliar places. Realistically, though, crimes like the one you mentioned will occur in any college town.</p>

3

<p>I would be (am) quite concerned. </p>

<p>[Ann</a> Arbor, University of Michigan on edge as rapist terrorizes city | Detroit Free Press | freep.com](<a href=“http://www.freep.com/article/20110728/NEWS06/307280002/Ann-Arbor-University-Michigan-edge-rapist-terrorizes-city-]Ann”>http://www.freep.com/article/20110728/NEWS06/307280002/Ann-Arbor-University-Michigan-edge-rapist-terrorizes-city-)</p>

4

<p>I think the fact that 6 attacks occurring in 12 days being considered big news actually speaks to how umich is usually such a safe environment. I understand your concern, but honestly there are tens of thousands of people in Ann Arbor. It is more likely that your child is going to get really drunk and do something stupid to him/herself than get assaulted. Again, just remind your child to be as safe as possible – trying to avoid going out alone late at night, being aware of their surroundings, etc.</p>

5

<p>You should be concerned. No matter how safe an environment is, it only takes one incident for there to be a victim. It is important to be aware and to take reasonable precautions to avoid becoming a victim of a crime that could have been avoided. On the other hand, Ann Arbor is generally safe and I wouldn’t feel compelled to lock myself in my room.</p>

6

<p>You should be concerned, but I don’t believe any more than normal. Travel in groups, travel well-lit areas, don’t go in public wasted, etc. Ann Arbor is very safe town as long as you use reasonable common sense- like not walking alone.</p>

7

<p>if you’re anything like my mom, you probably taught me these things:</p>

<ol>
<li>wear a seatbelt.</li>
<li>wash your hands before eating.</li>
<li>don’t talk to strangers.</li>
<li>travel with a friend after dark.</li>
</ol>

<p>all of the aforementioned tips have kept me safe in Ann Arbor.</p>

<p>Long story short, your kid will be fine.</p>

8

<p>I do appreciate the input. We live outside NYC and she travels into the city with friends. This type of crime spree would be news in NYC also. I know it’s impossible to shelter her, but I’d like to see the police and campus safety be a bit more proactive. It seems that the general attitude is that if you’re out in the dark, you are the one taking the risk.</p>

9

<p>Your daughter should be fine if she’s grown up in the NYC area</p>

<p>By no means did anyone imply that it is the victim’s fault for being assaulted, but using common sense when you’re outside drastically decreases the chance of being targeted. Again, I assume your daughter has learned to sense uncomfortable situations while growing up in a relatively more dangerous area.</p>

<p>If you read through the link that was provided in the 2nd post, you can see that the school police has increased security measures by cancelling officers’ vacations and adding staff/patrol shifts.</p>

10

<p>You shouldn’t be concerned if your child has any common sense. Majority of these attacks happen to people walking alone at 1AM-4AM.</p>

11

<p>Thanks – this is all very reassuring.</p>

12

<p>My son’s friends who are on campus this summer are obviously concerned about this and taking precautions accordingly. The reassuring part is that this is generally out of the ordinary. I am optimistic that this perp will not have the same opportunities when the campus is full again because there is to a degree a certain level of safety in numbers and they’re decent at communicating the information. That said, the notice is an excellent opportunity to discuss self defense and other preventative measures with your daughter.</p>