Campus Safety Offers Assistance to Students

By Brooklyn Page

OLIVET, Mich. — As it gets darker earlier in the coming weeks, concerns about student safety around campus can be a topic of conversation. Although small, The University of Olivet has students walking across campus at night to their dorms or apartments after evening classes, practices, or meetings. While many students are out and about on campus after the sun goes down, not all students are aware of the resources available to help them get home safely.

“We work 24 hours, 365 days a year," Chase Williams, a student employee with Campus Safety, said. "When you are walking home in the dark, you have the option to get an escort to help you to your car or house."

Williams said he took the job to help others feel safer on campus. Another student worker, Lilly Porter said many students are unaware of the services offered and that she often sees students walking home alone at night.

"A lot of students think Campus Safety is a joke, but we are here for people when they feel scared," Porter said. "We are limited in what we can do for students walking home in the dark, but we are trying."

Brad Baker, the Director of Campus Safety at UO, also said that he wishes more students were aware of the department’s resources. Because the town and university are significantly smaller than larger ones nearby, Baker said it is not feasible to install emergency phones or blue light systems on campus.

“By the time a student picks up a phone and calls Campus Safety, the student will already be at their location. We do have red phones located at the end of each dorm hall in case of emergency," Baker said. "In the future, I want to update the RAVE app so that students can hit a panic button to show the urgency of what’s going on, especially if a student can’t speak.”

In an emergency, students are advised to call 911. For non-emergencies or if students feel unsafe, Campus Safety can be reached at 269-749-7911 or visited in-person at the Cutler Student Center. The university also uses the RAVE system, an app that provides real-time updates on campus and community safety.