5 campus safety resources to know and use

In light of recent events that you may have heard about through UW–Madison’s emergency alerts, here are a few important reminders about campus safety. Two arrests have been made in connection with the Computer Science and parking garage incidents. The City of Madison Police Department is currently investigating an armed robbery that occurred Monday night on Langdon Street.

Though these incidents are not connected, we understand that the nature of these crimes is troubling. We want you to feel informed and know campus is focused on prevention, education and rapid response

Starting this month, the UW–Madison Police Department (UWPD) expanded its notifications to include certain areas just off-campus. These are called Off-Campus Alerts (OCAs) — they were created to keep the campus community better informed about certain crimes and emergencies happening just off campus, and to keep our community safe. UWPD also now allows family members to receive alerts.

Increased messaging can also create the perception that more crime is occurring. Overall, incidents are not up in this semester.

Madison is the second largest city in the state of Wisconsin with a population of over a quarter of a million people. While Madison is generally a safe community, crime does occur. UWPD is an active presence on campus, especially in the evenings, on weekends and in University Housing. They also maintain a positive partnership with the City of Madison Police Department and will increase their presence in certain areas if they know about specific issues.

Please take advantage of these tips and resources to keep yourself and your fellow Badgers safe:

• Exercise caution when traveling across campus after dark. Use SAFEwalk – a free walking companionship service available to all students, faculty, staff, and UW visitors. Call or text 608-262-5000 to request a walk.
• Avoid wearing earbuds – especially when walking at night. If you must, only use one earbud so you can stay aware of your surroundings.
• If you’re a bystander and see someone behaving in a way that seems suspicious, step in and do something about it. If you don’t feel comfortable or safe, call 911. We are a campus that takes care of each other.
• Use and encourage others to have a companion or safe means of getting home – like a trusted friend, taxi/rideshare, or SAFEwalk.
• UWPD is here 24/7 for our community and they respond immediately. They also welcome thoughts and feedback from students and families.