Notes About Safety from Orientation

Colleges & Universities Tulane University
1

<p>One thing first, then my notes about safety:
The overall message from Orientation regarding all topics, not just safety was this:
The school has a ton of resources for just about everything. Even if you don’t know who to call, just call *somebody<a href=“advisor,%20TUPD,%20Student%20Affairs,%20etc.,%20etc.”>/i</a> and they’ll get you to the right resource.</p>

<p>The following is not alarmist, it’s just common sense, and it comes from the Tulane University Police Department (TUPD) who’ve seen it all: </p>

<p>Tulane University Police Department
865 5200
Or just 5200 on campus.</p>

<p>They’re “open” 24/7/365. </p>

<p>TUPD is a full police force with all the responsibility and authority of the New Orleans police, who they work with. </p>

<p>If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any situation or location at all then leave that place, call TUPD, or both. Listen to your instinct and act on it. If you even think you shouldn’t be somewhere, then you probably shouldn’t. Leave if you can do so safely or call TUPD right away. </p>

<p>Never be afraid to call. Never feel silly to call because it might be something trivial. Call anyway. If you’re wondering whether you should call, then the answer is yes. The police WANT you to call. That’s what they’re there for. The officer who made the safety presentation at orientation almost pleaded for you to call. Your safety is their first priority. Use them. Use Safe Ride. Do it before something happens, not after.</p>

<p>Alcohol was involved in every reported assault.</p>

<p>The police are much more concerned with health and safety (i.e., making sure anyone in need of medical attention gets what they need) than they are with how old that person or his/her friends are. Never hesitate to call out of fear of being caught under age. </p>

<p>Being caught with drugs, on the other hand, will land you in jail. Period. </p>

<p>If you go somewhere with other people, leave with those people, and agree to this ahead of time. If you notice one of your friends possibly doing something dumb - e.g., leaving with someone they just met - take your friend by the hand and make them leave with you. Say something like “Come on, we all agreed. It’s time to go. We’re going. You’re coming with us.” They may become angry with you and even be mean or rude to you, but they’ll wake up safe in their own bed, and their anger probably won’t last. </p>

<p>If you’re the one who’s being told it’s time to leave, listen to your friends. Leave with them. Don’t think about the person you just met - “But he’s so nice and so cute!” Yeah, right. Beer goggles. - Think about yourself. If you stay safe there will be plenty of tomorrows. Get his number if you want. See him on campus at some later date, in daylight, in public. Then decide what happens next.</p>

<p>TUPD Offers a nationally recognized self defense course for women, called Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD). This is the course where you get to beat up a heavily padded police officer. Take the course!!! Get a group of friends and take it together if you like. It’s $25. </p>

<p>Editorial comment by winchester: Take the RAD course. Unless there’s a reason you can’t physically handle it – and even then, check with TUPD, maybe accommodations can be made - then there’s no reason not to take it. And you don’t have to take it just once. Take it again periodically to refresh your skills. Like any physical activity, repetition makes it automatic, almost instinctual. Do it, if not for yourself then for Mom and Dad.</p>

<p>TUPD Web site: [Tulane</a> University - TUPD](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/publicsafety/]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/publicsafety/)

  • Crime reports are posted there daily
  • Crime alerts are posted there
  • Sex Offender Registry is posted there.
  • Annual Security report is posted there. (In my view this is a must read for all parents and students) This includes statistics which can be compared to other schools, but you’ll need to get the data about those schools from them or from other sources.<br>
  • Silent Witness program for anonymously providing tips to TUPD is here.
  • Many other resources are on the web site. Check it out.</p>

<p>Safe Ride Shuttle is offered by Division of Student Affairs. This is an On Call service available to Tulane and Loyola community Tuesday to Saturday 8 pm to 4 am.
Residence to/from residence
Residence to/from campus
Business to residence/campus</p>

<p>Walking alone off campus is not a good idea. There should be no reason for you to ever travel without feeling safe.</p>

<p>Saturday Grocery Shuttles go to Wal-Mart, Riverside Shopping Center, and Whole Foods. There’s also a Saturday Wal-Mart Express shuttle.</p>

<p>Saturday Entertainment Shuttle goes to Lakeside and Clearview Malls.</p>

<p>Most crimes are student-on-student crimes of opportunity (i.e., Items left unattended for “only a minute”). Lock all doors, even you’re going down the hall for just a minute.</p>

<p>Register your bike, laptop, and other valuables. Keep a list of serial numbers of those items, as well as credit card numbers in your room. But remember, registration is most valuable for deterrent purposes. Given a choice between a registered item with the registration sticker prominently displayed and a non-registered item, well, you know what happens. Very few stolen items are ever recovered. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.</p>

<p>The notable exception to student-on-student crime is bike theft. There are lots of nice bikes on campus. People will come from elsewhere and take them.</p>

<p>Always, always, lock your bike. Invest in a good lock. Cable locks are not good. </p>

<p>In addition to the 44 commissioned police officers, TUPD also provides security at some Residence Hall front desks (notably JL) and shuttle drivers.</p>

<p>Tulane University is private property, which is important for at least two reasons:

  1. Officers may stop anyone at any time to check ID and determine if the person is on campus for legitimate reasons
  2. A proposed law allowing guns on college campuses does not apply to Tulane. It applies only to public universities.</p>

<p>The following quote is from the TUPD Web site. This information was also provided at orientation.</p>

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<p>Also from the TUPD Web site:</p>

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<p>P.S. Tulane University is the safest 150 acres in New Orleans.</p>

<p>P.P.S.<br>
Take the RAD course!!!<br>
Trust your instinct and act on it.<br>
Never feel silly or think something is too trivial to call TUPD.<br>
Use them.<br>
Use Safe Ride.<br>
Use all the safety resources.<br>
Stay Safe.<br>
Did I mention the RAD course?</p>

2

<p>Thanks for posting. My H & S are there now for orientation. Glad to hear about all the resources that the school has.</p>

3

<p>The officer gave the best presentation at orientation IMO. he was really straightforward</p>

4

<p>I too though that this was the best presentation at orientation, however I was apalled by the behavior of the students. Many disregarded this VERY important information and instead talking to the person sitting beside them or resorted to texting on their cell phone. Some even had the nerve to leave their phone on ring (not vibrate/silent) and interrupt the entire presentation. The behavior was just rude, wouldn’t you agree, mcel123?</p>

5

<p>I had a similar experience at the general presentation before the students went into their separate meetings.</p>

<p>I gave them a silent stare twice to no avail other than a response from them which appeared to indicate that they thought I was being rude. Finally I shushed them for which I got a “thank you” from a nearby parent. The kids were quiet for about 10 minutes then resumend their conversation.</p>

<p>What’s up with that?</p>