The POINT brings campus safety awareness to La Salle

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
September 11, 2008

In case you didn’t notice the blue fliers La Salle Security Officers were handing out during the first week of classes, the month of September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the POINT, which consists of student leaders representing a wide variety of student organizations on campus, has been working to find ways to raise awareness among students about campus safety.

“Dr. Lane Neubauer [Associate Dean of Students] is coordinating the whole thing,” said senior chemistry major Bill Hunt. Hunt is president of the Inter-Fraternity-Sorority Council and represents Greek life in the POINT. “[We meet] for an hour in her office and everyone passes around what they’ve been working on. A lot of people attend. There’s a lot of positive feedback.”

According to Campussafetymonth.org, this is the fourth year September has been officially recognized as NCSAM and over 350 colleges and universities will participate in raising awareness among their students.

“September is widely recognized as the most dangerous month for college students,” according to the Web site. The site also states that this month has been nicknamed “The Red Zone” for its high incidence of sexual assaults. According to the site, 95 percent of violent campus crimes are alcohol or other drug related.

Already this month, La Salle Security and Safety has posted two safety alerts and one safety advisory, including a sexual assault incidence.

Hunt and other student leaders are working to increase communication among students and security and raising awareness of safety reports, “so everyone has a more enjoyable, safe start.”

IFSC proposed to highlight the Emergency Text Message Alert System for its role in NCSAM. According to Hunt, each fraternity and sorority sends two representatives to IFSC meetings. At those meetings, representatives and the executive board members discussed possible ways for Greek life to participate in NCSAM.

“It’s a shared effort,” Hunt said. “People are really responsive with how we can do things. Every chapter is pulling their weight.”

In order to promote the Emergency Text Message System, Hunt had 1,000 yellow business cards printed up, explaining the system and how to sign up for it. Greeks distributed the cards at the Activities Fair Sept. 4, and Hunt also handed out copies of the card to other student leaders to spread around campus.

The Emergency Text Message System was put into effect last year in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech the spring 2007. In theory, the system is supposed to inform students who sign up of any emergency closings, lockdowns or other campus emergencies via cell phone text message. The service is provided by La Salle free of charge. However, standard text messaging rates apply. Lasallians can sign up by clicking the Brother Luwis icon on the myLasalle Portal in the personal information tab.

Student leaders and security will continue spreading campus safety awareness throughout the month.

biagio1@lasalle.edu