Safety on campus: Stay alert, lock up, and take advantage of University resources

Iowa has a reputation as a safe place. Ironically, that may be why students and their belongings sometimes are not as safe as one might think. Students are partners with the University in protecting their own safety, and help is available:

The Black & Gold Handbook for New Students, distributed at Orientation, lists offices or areas of the University dedicated to safety. For more campus safety resources, visit www.uiowa.edu/homepage/safety.

The Department of Public Safety’s Police Division, located downtown in the University Capitol Centre, has sworn, certified police officers—and two police dogs—to patrol the campus. They are graduates of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, with the same powers as other police departments. The Investigations Division has specialized training in helping victims of sexual assault.

The Hawk Alert System notifies the campus community of threats to physical safety, such as tornadoes or hazardous material incidents, via telephone, text, and e-mail messages. Students should be sure to add their mobile numbers at hawkalert.uiowa.edu or on ISIS. The University also has an outdoor warning system that broadcasts voice messages and sirens during severe weather or campus emergencies.

Theft—especially of books, backpacks, bicycles, sound systems, and laptop computers—is the No. 1 reported crime on campus. Students should register important belongings on the University’s Project ID web site, police.uiowa.edu/services/project-id-3, or through Project UV to help deter theft and identify items.

Nite Ride, a van service operated by Department of Public Safety’s Security Division, provides women safe transportation late at night. More information is available at police.uiowa.edu/services/nite-ride. Also, Cambus runs frequently, for both convenience and safety.

Code Blue telephones are located around campus to give students immediate access to UI police officers in emergencies. Students also should program into their cell phones the numbers of area police departments (University, 319-335-5022; Iowa City, 319-356-5275).

Rape Aggression Defense Training is a free, 12-hour course offered through the Department of Public Safety. The department also offers a free, two-hour session on Violent Incident Survival Training.