Student-staff collaboration addresses campus safety

A group of students and staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has spent the fall semester working on the challenging task of improving campus safety.

The Dean of Students Safety Taskforce has examined a wide variety of safety issues, including campus area crime, late night transportation, neighborhood watch programs, effective communication to students and emergency notifications.

The group’s overall mission has been to build a more safety-conscious campus community, improve communication to students about taking ownership of safety, and make students aware of available campus resources, says Dean of Students Lori Berquam.

"Over the past year, I’ve learned that there are dozens of people on campus who are very concerned or working on safety issues," says Berquam. "My goal has always been to bring everyone together and magnify the impact of these important individual efforts.

"I believe that our response can’t be solely a police response," she adds. "We need to come together as a Wisconsin community to take responsibility and put effort into these problems."

Initially formed as a response to a spate of downtown sexual assaults and robberies, the taskforce has been led by Associate Dean of Students Kevin Helmkamp and includes participation from the Associated Students of Madison (ASM), the University Police Department, University Communications, Transportation Services, Visitor & Information Programs, UW Housing, Madison Police Department, SAFE Nighttime Services and the local landlord community.

Berquam and Helmkamp say that it may not be realistic to expect that the taskforce can help curb crime. However, Kelly Arendt, chair of ASM’s Campus Safety Committee, says that the collaboration has increased awareness this fall.

"I definitely think that the student-staff collaboration has helped to improve campus safety efforts," she says. "Collaboration allows staff and students to unify their safety messages on campus and get more students to pay attention to the messaging and change their behaviors."

Among the group’s fall semester activities:

• Distributed funds to the ASM Neighborhood Watch Program to fund a coordinator position, allowing the program to expand and improve.
• Launched an information campaign to students, faculty and staff about personal safety, safety resources, and how to identify and address difficult or troubled students.
• Worked in partnership with the Parent Program to distribute essential safety information to parents.
• Used a Facebook ad to highlight the importance of staying safe on and off campus.
• Held "PB&J with the Deans" event on Sept. 26 that featured safety messages.
• Worked on late-night transportation and advocated for the return of the 80 bus stop at Union South and increased lighting in specific campus areas.

• Worked in partnership with the Langdon Street Watch Program, Madison Police, Downtown Madison Inc., and downtown landlords to reinforce campus safety messaging.

Future efforts will include a new campaign for spring 2007 to address apartment fire safety following two major campus area fires, as well as moped, pedestrian and bike safety.

The taskforce is also looking for additional student participation and project ideas for spring semester. To participate or share ideas, send e-mail to dean@odos.wisc.edu.