October 29, 2013
Questions and answers for students about safety
1)
What is EMU doing to ensure student safety? Are students safe?
Preventing crime and ensuring student safety has been President Susan Martin’s top
priority since she began at EMU five years ago. Our professional police force is an active
and visible presence on campus 24 hours a day/seven days a week.
As a result of a variety of safety improvements in recent years, including increased security
in residence halls and increased police staffing, various crimes such as burglaries have
dropped on campus in the last five years. Our crime statistics can be found at
https://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/documents/current_yearly_crime_stats.pdf
The campus has an extensive camera surveillance system, with approximately 500
cameras, overseen by our dispatchers 24 hours a day/seven days a week. We also have
a state-of-the-art emergency alert system that includes text, email and an outdoor speaker
alert system to notify students of emergency situations.
The University, Ypsilanti Police and city officials, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s office
are collaborating on how to ensure the safety of EMU students living off campus. On
Thursday, October 23, Eastern announced an expanded collaboration with several local law
enforcement communities to increase police patrols in the areas surrounding campus. This
news release includes complete details of the expanded patrols and how it will work. Our
public safety partners and government leaders in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County and
Ypsilanti Township all share our strong commitment to keep EMU students and community
members safe. In addition to the increased patrols, we continue to work aggressively with several landlords
in the area to identify further safety measures that can be implemented in those complexes.
Our discussions include adding security cameras and emergency call stations, organizing a
neighborhood watch program, and expanding shuttle hours into the night. These
discussions have been productive and we will continue to keep you updated on our
progress.
The off-campus housing website that has been discussed as "under-development" in
campus messages and at the public forums last week and yesterday is now live. It can be
found at www.emich.edu/offcampushousing. The site is designed to be a resource for
students seeking information about off-campus housing options. It includes a safety
checklist that renters should ask of landlords; a list and links to EMU public safety
resources; geographically-focused online crime mapping links for Eastern Michigan
University and the city of Ypsilanti, as well as the city of Ann Arbor; links to bus and
transportation schedules; links to renter's guides and other tenant resources; and, housing
reviews and ratings provided by outside organizations
Eastern Michigan University also publishes a Daily Crime Log of all crimes reported to the
Eastern Michigan University Department of Public Safety. This can be viewed at
http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/crimeinformation/crimelog.php. Eastern also
publishes the Daily Crime Log for the city of Ypsilanti:
http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/crimeinformation/ypsicrimelog.php
Q&A campus safety/ 2
2)
Are there actions students should take to prevent themselves from becoming
a victim of crime?
As on any campus or urban environment, to help ensure safety, students are continually
urged in emails and other communications to be aware of surroundings and look assertive,
to walk with friends or coworkers when possible and program the number for EMU Police
(734-487-1222) into cell phones.
These safety tips are routinely provided:
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Be aware of your surroundings.
Dial 911 for emergencies on campus land lines.
Dial 734-487-1222 for emergencies from a cellular telephone.
Do not give money or other items requested to solicitors.
Use SEEUS for escorts to and from any location on EMU campus during the
evening hours.
Use the buddy-buddy system. Do not walk alone after normal business hours.
Check Eaglemail announcements for campus alerts.
Be familiar with the locations of campus telephones: emergency telephones
located within campus facilities and outdoor emergency telephone campus
locations.
Be suspicious of unsolicited visitors.
Report all strange or questionable activities and/or encounters with individuals
to the Police Department.
Trust your instincts with encounters with strangers for your personal safety.
Remain as calm as possible when reporting or describing an incident to the
police or a police dispatcher.
Take time to learn options for your personal safety.
Our SEEUS program walks students to cars, dorms and other destinations at night. More
information can be found at http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/services/seeus.php
The University offers Rape Aggression Defense classes and self-defense information
through the EMU Police Department. Please visit
http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/services/prevention/rad.php for additional
information.
Eastern Michigan’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers a wealth of
information related to supporting the needs of students, and specific information related to
sexual assault. Please visit
https://www.emich.edu/caps/caps_resources/self_help_pages/assault_facts.php.
Training and crime prevention seminars on safety issues such as date rape and alcohol and
drug awareness are coordinated through the Department of Public Safety and can be found
at http://www.emich.edu/publicsafety/police/services/prevention/seminars.php.
In addition, a Title IX Forum – Tell Someone: Know your Rights about Sex Discrimination,
Harassment, and Assault is planned for November 5, from 12-1 p.m., in 310-B of the
Student Center.
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3)
Are there "hot spots" or specific areas of campus or the city that students should
stay away from?
Our campus has been shown to be safe in all areas. It is well lit and heavily patrolled. Our
police station is located prominently at the northwest end of campus and is a highly visible
presence and a deterrent to crime.
Some of the recent reported crimes are concentrated in an area north of campus. As we
indicated earlier, the University, Ypsilanti Police and city officials, and the Washtenaw
County Sheriff’s office are collaborating to ensure the safety of EMU students living off
campus. This news release includes complete details of expanded patrols and how it will
work. Our public safety partners and government leaders in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County
and Ypsilanti Township all share our strong commitment to keep EMU students and
community members safe. In addition to the increased patrols, Eastern continues to work aggressively with several
landlords in the area to identify further safety measures that can be implemented in those
complexes. Our discussions include adding security cameras and emergency call stations,
organizing a neighborhood watch program, and expanding shuttle hours into the night.
These discussions have been productive and we will continue to keep you updated on our
progress.
The off-campus housing website that has been discussed as "under-development" in
campus messages and at the public forums last week and yesterday is now live. It can be
found at www.emich.edu/offcampushousing. The site is designed to be a resource for
students seeking information about off-campus housing options. It includes a safety
checklist that renters should ask of landlords; a list and links to EMU public safety
resources; geographically-focused online crime mapping links for Eastern Michigan
University and the city of Ypsilanti, as well as the city of Ann Arbor; links to bus and
transportation schedules; links to renter's guides and other tenant resources; and, housing
reviews and ratings provided by outside organizations.
4)
What is being done to address safety concerns for students living off campus?
As we indicated previously, on Thursday, October 23, Eastern announced an expanded
collaboration with several local law enforcement communities to increase police patrols in
the areas surrounding campus. This news release includes complete details of the
expanded patrols and how it will work. Our public safety partners and government leaders
in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County and Ypsilanti Township all share our strong commitment to
keep EMU students and community members safe. In addition to the increased patrols, Eastern continues to work aggressively with several
landlords in the area to identify further safety measures that can be implemented in those
complexes. Our discussions include adding security cameras and emergency call stations,
organizing a neighborhood watch program, and expanding shuttle hours into the night.
These discussions have been productive and we will continue to keep you updated on our
progress.
The off-campus housing website that has been discussed as "under-development" in
campus messages and at the public forums last week and yesterday is now live. It can be
found at www.emich.edu/offcampushousing. The site is designed to be a resource for
students seeking information about off-campus housing options. It includes a safety
checklist that renters should ask of landlords; a list and links to EMU public safety
Q&A campus safety/ 4
resources; geographically-focused online crime mapping links for Eastern Michigan
University and the city of Ypsilanti, as well as the city of Ann Arbor; links to bus and
transportation schedules; links to renter's guides and other tenant resources; and, housing
reviews and ratings provided by outside organizations.
5)
Are the recent crimes gang related? Is there a gang problem on campus or in the
community?
Our police force actively deals with campus intruders and trespassers, and there is
currently no evidence of gang activity. Ypsilanti and EMU Police are intensely investigating
the recent off-campus crimes and who is connected with them.
6)
Will EMU be issuing an official statement to the public?
EMU continues to proactively and aggressively communicate with staff and students and
media regarding crimes on and near campus, in addition to holding public forums and
conversations to update our students and staff.
Please visit our investigation website at http://www.emich.edu/community-notice/ to see
such communications, current updates, and video of the public forums.
7)
Where can students go with specific concerns?
When considering any of our resources on campus, including the ones below, please make
every effort to call ahead if possible.
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For issues impacting academic performance, for example withdrawing from a course
or incomplete grades: Dr. Rhonda Longworth, Associate Provost and Associate Vice
President for Academic Services, rkinney@emich.edu, 734-487-3201.
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For counseling services: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS),
Dr. Lisa Lauterbach, Director, counseling.services@emich.edu, 734-487-1118.
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For residence hall concerns: Residence Life Office, Marney Buss, Director,
housing@emich.edu, 734-487-1300.
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For other concerns with regards to University policies, procedures, and decisions:
Dr. Chiara Hensley, Office of the Ombuds, EMU_Ombuds@emich.edu,
734-487-0074.
This question and answer document is prepared by the EMU Division of Communications. Please
contact Vice President Walter Kraft at wkraft@emich.edu or 734.487.6895 if you have any
questions.
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