SGA sponsors ‘Student Safety Week’
March 21, 2016
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Although Slippery Rock University consistently ranks as one of the safest universities in the United States, when it comes to safety one can never be too prepared or diligent. To help Slippery Rock University students become more safety conscious, the Slippery Rock University Student Government Association will host its first "Student Safety Week" program March 21-25.
During the course of the week, students will be able to participate in active shooter, self-defense and stalking prevention training sessions. Paul Novak, SRU interim executive director of environmental health and safety, and Lt. Kevin Sharkey of University Police, will present the workshops.
Students will be awarded certificates of completion for each event they attend.
FUGH
Abby Fugh, a business management major from Butler and SGA Student Life Committee co-chair, developed and is coordinating the program.
"There were 23 college campus shootings in 2015, which is a rising number," she said. "If, by the end of next week, students feel more confident in their self-defense skills, we will have done our job. I personally have never felt scared while on campus, but it never hurts to be on the safe side."
Novak couldn't agree more. "True safety starts with the individual, and the acknowledgment that each and every one of us is responsible for our own personal safety and security. Making good choices such as traveling in groups, using open, well-lit areas at night and paying attention to our surroundings are keys to reducing our risk of becoming victims of crime. When the risk goes down, safety goes up," he said.
Activities scheduled for safety week include:
Today: Student Safety Week Kickoff, 6-8 p.m., Advanced Technology and Science Hall Auditorium. Novak will overview violence prevention measures.
March 22: Active Shooter Prevention, 12:30 p.m., Advanced Technology and Science Hall Auditorium. Novak will provide guidance on situational aspects of an active shooter incident and strategies for surviving an incident.
March 23: Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD) training, 5 p.m., 321 Smith Student Center. Sharkey will present realistic self-defense tactics.
March 24: Stalking Prevention, 6 p.m., 105 Vincent Science Center. Novak will provide information on stalking awareness, the hazards of domestic violence and options for persons exposed to these situations.
"Today, more than ever, college and university campuses across the nation are employing a number of varying strategies to promote safety to their students and employees," Novak said.
At SRU, University Police are available 24-7. Blue Light Safety stations are located throughout campus, and safety call boxes are in all academic buildings. In addition, SRU operates an E2Campus mass text notification, provides a student safety escort services and conducts RAD training several times a year.
"SRU has implemented many strategies to provide safe and secure facilities and has plans to expand our access control and security camera efforts to further enhance safety on campus," Novak said.
SGA leads an annual "Campus Crawl" looking for areas where lighting needs to be replaced and added, places where landscaping needs modified and where a person may hide unnoticed.
"Our students are very engaged on the topic of safety," he said.
"Student Safety Week" sponsors include University Program Board, Black Action Society, Association of Residence Hall Students, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu