I hope your
semester is off to a safe and successful start! One of my roles as Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs is to provide you with vital information about
your health and safety. I encourage you to learn more and use caution,
especially late at night.
Some basic safety tips are:
--Always walk with a group of friends,
especially at night.
--If you intend to drink, do so in
moderation so as not to put yourself in a position of increased risk.
--Use your “radar” or common sense as your
first defense.
Always carry your cell phone. If you find
yourself in an unsafe situation or are witness to a crime, call 911 in
emergencies or (715) 346- 3456 for UWSP’s Security and Police Department’s
non-emergency line.
In the wake of the shootings in Oak Creek,
Wis. and Aurora, Colo., I want you to know that UW-Stevens Point, like
universities around the country, convenes a group designed to conduct threat
assessment on behalf of the entire campus community. It is our belief that the
best way to learn of and curb a potential threat is through extensive
communication between administrators and members of the campus community. If
you are aware of an individual of concern or need any kind of assistance,
please reply to this message or call 715-346-2481 to speak with me. Your care
and concern is important in keeping our community safe.
Lastly, our campus boasts a vibrant social
scene, full of many different ways to have fun with your friends. Many students
find that college is the first time that they encounter use and misuse of
alcohol by their peers. Too frequently I personally encounter students whose
choices involving alcohol create problems for themselves and others. These
choices result in harm done to themselves or others. I don’t want this to
happen to any member of our community. Be safe this weekend and please take a
moment to learn more about UWSP campus policies regarding alcohol at
http://www.uwsp.edu/stuaffairs/ Documents/RightsRespons/SRR-
2010/AlcoholSR.pdf.
Safety is a shared responsibility between
students, administrators, police, and community.
Again, welcome and have a safe and
successful semester!
Al
Al S. Thompson, Jr., Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs