UC~ Under Cover
Hello Leverett,
Just in case you weren't able to make the long hike to the quad on Monday for the open UC General Meeting on Campus Safety, I have compiled some important notes from this event!!!
On Monday October 13th, HUPD Chief Francis "Bud" Riley, Jay Ellison, Associate College Dean and Chair of the Harvard College Safety Committee, and Steve Catalano, Harvard Police Dept. Public Information Officer, hosted an informal discussion in the SOCH to talk about recent concerns about safety on campus. At the end of the meeting students had a chance to voice some of their suggestions on how to improve safety on campus. Below are Chief Riley's 10 Simple Ways to "Play It Safe," 7 suggestions made by students at the meeting, and 3 of the most interesting things I learned!
10 Simple Ways to "Play It Safe"
1. Know the HUPD urgent number (617-495-1212) and "In Case of Emergency" (ICE) contacts in your cell phone on speed dial.
2. Actively participate in maintaining a safe and secure campus by adopting the "If You See Something, Say Something" philosophy
3. Call the HUPD immediately if you observe suspicious activity or if you are victimized
4. Familiarize yourself with the "Designated Pathways" on campus
5. Call the HUPD immediately if you observe suspicious activity or if you are victimized
6. Read and adhere to the crime prevention tips found on the HUPD website
7. Register your laptop and bicycle
8. Sign up for MessageMe (text message service in case of an emergency)
9. Attend or organize a safety talk with an HUPD officer
10. Watch the "Partnership for a Safe Community" video (www.hupd.harvard.edu/safe_com_video.php ).
**In order for the Harvard University Police Department to maintain a safe and secure campus it needs the help of the community. If you follow the advice above you will be doing your part to ensure your safety as well as the safety of the entire Harvard University community.
Suggestions Made by Students to the HUPD:
1. An effort to change the culture of calling 911 for all issues. (We have to be careful here to avoid telling people never to call 911. They should in life-threatening or serious medical issues.)
2. Need for routine safety talks in the Houses and the Yard.
3. Publicize the Safety Committee and encourage students to raise their safety and security concerns there
4. The need to publicize and encourage students to utilize resources offered such as HUCEP, escort van, RAD, etc.
5. An effort to increase visibility of HUPD officers around the Quad and other areas where students feel at risk.
6. The need to examine lighting and blue light phones around the Common and along Garden Street.
7. Have a discussion about "street smarts" and provide students with tangible action steps they can take to protect themselves including situations to avoid
Kia's Top Three:
1. 75% of violent crime in the community have occurred against males by masked assailants—because males tend to walk without regard to safety believing they can defend themselves
2. If it's after 3am and shuttles are no longer running, you can always call HUPD and they will find a security guard on-call to escort you home--even if you live off campus. I sometimes leave Lamont library at that awkward time between 3am and the next day, and am terrified to walk home so this was music to my ears!
3. Don't prop open your doors, not even for a minute= just don't do it! Most risk is in the dorms with your property. 95% of crime that happens is property crime and unattended property inevitably increases your risk of losing property. Propping open your room doors dramatically increases risk of theft.
Warm Regards,
Kia Jovanie McLeod
UC Public Relations Chair
The Undergraduate Council (UC) is Harvard's undergraduate student government, composed of 33 students elected from their house or yard and a popularly elected President and Vice President. The UC allocates a roughly $470,000 budget every year, appoints student members to over 20 student faculty committees, and advocates for students on a range of academic and student life issues. Last year the UC allocated approximately $120,000 to House Committees and over $330,000 to student groups. In the past the UC has successfully advocated for issues such as Calender reform and 24-hour lamont and this semester the UC is focusing on AdBoard reforms, a review of College governance, and increasing student group and project funding. You can learn more about the UC at www.uc.fas.harvard.edu
Hello Leverett,
Just in case you weren't able to make the long hike to the quad on Monday for the open UC General Meeting on Campus Safety, I have compiled some important notes from this event!!!
On Monday October 13th, HUPD Chief Francis "Bud" Riley, Jay Ellison, Associate College Dean and Chair of the Harvard College Safety Committee, and Steve Catalano, Harvard Police Dept. Public Information Officer, hosted an informal discussion in the SOCH to talk about recent concerns about safety on campus. At the end of the meeting students had a chance to voice some of their suggestions on how to improve safety on campus. Below are Chief Riley's 10 Simple Ways to "Play It Safe," 7 suggestions made by students at the meeting, and 3 of the most interesting things I learned!
10 Simple Ways to "Play It Safe"
1. Know the HUPD urgent number (617-495-1212) and "In Case of Emergency" (ICE) contacts in your cell phone on speed dial.
2. Actively participate in maintaining a safe and secure campus by adopting the "If You See Something, Say Something" philosophy
3. Call the HUPD immediately if you observe suspicious activity or if you are victimized
4. Familiarize yourself with the "Designated Pathways" on campus
5. Call the HUPD immediately if you observe suspicious activity or if you are victimized
6. Read and adhere to the crime prevention tips found on the HUPD website
7. Register your laptop and bicycle
8. Sign up for MessageMe (text message service in case of an emergency)
9. Attend or organize a safety talk with an HUPD officer
10. Watch the "Partnership for a Safe Community" video (www.hupd.harvard.edu/safe_
**In order for the Harvard University Police Department to maintain a safe and secure campus it needs the help of the community. If you follow the advice above you will be doing your part to ensure your safety as well as the safety of the entire Harvard University community.
Suggestions Made by Students to the HUPD:
1. An effort to change the culture of calling 911 for all issues. (We have to be careful here to avoid telling people never to call 911. They should in life-threatening or serious medical issues.)
2. Need for routine safety talks in the Houses and the Yard.
3. Publicize the Safety Committee and encourage students to raise their safety and security concerns there
4. The need to publicize and encourage students to utilize resources offered such as HUCEP, escort van, RAD, etc.
5. An effort to increase visibility of HUPD officers around the Quad and other areas where students feel at risk.
6. The need to examine lighting and blue light phones around the Common and along Garden Street.
7. Have a discussion about "street smarts" and provide students with tangible action steps they can take to protect themselves including situations to avoid
Kia's Top Three:
1. 75% of violent crime in the community have occurred against males by masked assailants—because males tend to walk without regard to safety believing they can defend themselves
2. If it's after 3am and shuttles are no longer running, you can always call HUPD and they will find a security guard on-call to escort you home--even if you live off campus. I sometimes leave Lamont library at that awkward time between 3am and the next day, and am terrified to walk home so this was music to my ears!
3. Don't prop open your doors, not even for a minute= just don't do it! Most risk is in the dorms with your property. 95% of crime that happens is property crime and unattended property inevitably increases your risk of losing property. Propping open your room doors dramatically increases risk of theft.
Warm Regards,
Kia Jovanie McLeod
UC Public Relations Chair
The Undergraduate Council (UC) is Harvard's undergraduate student government, composed of 33 students elected from their house or yard and a popularly elected President and Vice President. The UC allocates a roughly $470,000 budget every year, appoints student members to over 20 student faculty committees, and advocates for students on a range of academic and student life issues. Last year the UC allocated approximately $120,000 to House Committees and over $330,000 to student groups. In the past the UC has successfully advocated for issues such as Calender reform and 24-hour lamont and this semester the UC is focusing on AdBoard reforms, a review of College governance, and increasing student group and project funding. You can learn more about the UC at www.uc.fas.harvard.edu
