> Personal Safety SFU’s Priority
Personal Safety SFU’s Priority
September 5, 2007
Over the Labour Day weekend, a female student was sexually assaulted and beaten while working alone at night in a campus lab at Carleton University, Ottawa.
Vern May, assistant director of Campus Security at SFU, spells out measures in place to protect members of the campus community, and gives some tips.
The possibility of these types of incidents, however remote, is always part of the planning context within Campus Security. Violence on campus has a far-reaching impact on the community as a whole, and the best tools available are those that focus on prevention. At SFU, there are a number of programs in place to ensure your personal safety.
The following programs are in place at the Burnaby Campus:
[For information on the resources and programs at the Vancouver campus please click here and for the Surrey campus phone 778-837-0873.]
1. Safe Walk Program
From anywhere on campus, for anyone (staff, student, faculty, visitor), and 24 hours per day, you can request a Safe Walk from Campus Security to/from your office, classroom, or vehicle.
A member of the campus security team will meet you and walk with you to any on-campus destination.
This service is particularly popular during the evening hours as people make their way about campus after dark, but can be provided at any time as you feel the need.
2. Emergency Phones
At a number of locations around campus, in parking lots and common areas, Campus Security is directly accessible through one-button access at our Emergency communication phones.
These blue towers initiate a blue beacon and an audible message that announces “Security has been called”. You are instantly connected to a Campus Security Dispatcher who can respond to your concern and send Security to attend without delay.
There are 27 blue emergency phones about the Burnaby campus. In addition, there are a number of payphones on campus that feature a direct toll-free connection to Campus Security.
And the majority of departmental phones within offices have been provided with stickers giving the Security emergency number: 24500.
3. Lone Worker Program
If you are working alone or in isolation, there are steps that can be taken to ensure your personal safety.
Outside standard business hours (i.e., between 5 pm and 8 am) it is important to ensure that all students, faculty and staff students are safe from risks and that response is timely in the event of any unforeseen accident or illness.
For some departments on campus, a proactive approach to safety means the employee places a call to Security to let that office know where they are working and that they are working alone. Then Security can best plan its patrol routes.
This practice has been in place through Campus Security for some time now, and the University Safety committee is working to develop a standard policy to be adopted university-wide.
4. Security patrols
Security patrols are on the move 24 hours a day, both on foot and on wheels to ensure your personal safety and protection of your personal and University property.
If you have any questions or concerns related to safety and security, please feel free to approach any of our staff while they are out and about.
Our security personnel are certified in Occupational First Aid (Level Two) and are available to respond to medical emergencies and attend to first aid as required.
Soon, getting in touch with Security will be even easier, with our upcoming E-Alert program which allows you to connect with Security online from your home or on campus.
5. Security tips
In addition to these programs and resources, it is important that everyone take an active role in ensuring our safety and the security of those around us.
Certainly, the nightly lockdown of campus buildings to dissuade unauthorized people from accessing sensitive and non-public areas works toward this goal.
But you can do your part by exercising the same security practices at school and in the workplace as you do in your own home.
Would you go to sleep at home with your front door unlocked? Don't do it in residence, either. Would you wander around Vancouver streets alone at 1 a.m.? Don't do it on campus, then. Would you let a complete stranger into your house when you're alone? Avoid it it at SFU, too.
Locking doors and closing curtains/windows as applicable may seem very basic, but the positive effects that such steps can have are immeasurable.
Trusting your instincts, being aware of your surroundings and knowing the resources available is the best way for everyone to enhance their personal safety.
• Be alert. Don’t assume that you are always safe. Think about your safety everywhere. Your best protection is avoiding dangerous situations.
• If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave.
• If you observe any unusual activity, report it immediately to Security.
• Always walk, drive, and park your car in well-lit areas.
• Walk to your car with keys in your hand. Walk confidently at a steady pace. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys.
• Never give the impression that you are alone if a stranger telephones or comes to the door.
• If a stranger asks to use your phone, have him wait outside while you make the call.
• If you find a door or window open or signs of forced entry, don’t go in. Go to the nearest phone and call Security.
Valuable tips on personal safety and security can be found in a special guide from Campus Security. It is available as a http://www.sfu.ca/security/files/PDF/safetydraftJuly21.pdf . (PDF) (Please note that all phone numbers in it now are 778-782-xxxx numbers, where xxxx is the last four digits of the old number.)
6. Questions, concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns about personal safety please contact SFU’s Personal Security Coordinator (all campuses): Laura MacDonald, phone 778-782-5450 or by e-mail at laura_macdonald@sfu.ca
7. Emergency numbers
For immediate attention to pressing matters of personal security, contact your campus security team at the following emergency numbers:
• Burnaby 778-782-4500
• Surrey 778-782-7511
• Vancouver 778-782-5252
8. Coming up
As well, the university is working on a number of measures to upgrade Security and emergency communications plans.
These will include a system for mass text-messaging, electronic notice boards in key locations, emergency website protocols and more.
You and Campus Security, Partners In Safety.
Vern May
Assistant Director
Campus Security
778-782-5898
Vern May, assistant director of Campus Security at SFU, spells out measures in place to protect members of the campus community, and gives some tips.
The possibility of these types of incidents, however remote, is always part of the planning context within Campus Security. Violence on campus has a far-reaching impact on the community as a whole, and the best tools available are those that focus on prevention. At SFU, there are a number of programs in place to ensure your personal safety.
The following programs are in place at the Burnaby Campus:
[For information on the resources and programs at the Vancouver campus please click here and for the Surrey campus phone 778-837-0873.]
1. Safe Walk Program
From anywhere on campus, for anyone (staff, student, faculty, visitor), and 24 hours per day, you can request a Safe Walk from Campus Security to/from your office, classroom, or vehicle.
A member of the campus security team will meet you and walk with you to any on-campus destination.
This service is particularly popular during the evening hours as people make their way about campus after dark, but can be provided at any time as you feel the need.
2. Emergency Phones
At a number of locations around campus, in parking lots and common areas, Campus Security is directly accessible through one-button access at our Emergency communication phones.
These blue towers initiate a blue beacon and an audible message that announces “Security has been called”. You are instantly connected to a Campus Security Dispatcher who can respond to your concern and send Security to attend without delay.
There are 27 blue emergency phones about the Burnaby campus. In addition, there are a number of payphones on campus that feature a direct toll-free connection to Campus Security.
And the majority of departmental phones within offices have been provided with stickers giving the Security emergency number: 24500.
3. Lone Worker Program
If you are working alone or in isolation, there are steps that can be taken to ensure your personal safety.
Outside standard business hours (i.e., between 5 pm and 8 am) it is important to ensure that all students, faculty and staff students are safe from risks and that response is timely in the event of any unforeseen accident or illness.
For some departments on campus, a proactive approach to safety means the employee places a call to Security to let that office know where they are working and that they are working alone. Then Security can best plan its patrol routes.
This practice has been in place through Campus Security for some time now, and the University Safety committee is working to develop a standard policy to be adopted university-wide.
4. Security patrols
Security patrols are on the move 24 hours a day, both on foot and on wheels to ensure your personal safety and protection of your personal and University property.
If you have any questions or concerns related to safety and security, please feel free to approach any of our staff while they are out and about.
Our security personnel are certified in Occupational First Aid (Level Two) and are available to respond to medical emergencies and attend to first aid as required.
Soon, getting in touch with Security will be even easier, with our upcoming E-Alert program which allows you to connect with Security online from your home or on campus.
5. Security tips
In addition to these programs and resources, it is important that everyone take an active role in ensuring our safety and the security of those around us.
Certainly, the nightly lockdown of campus buildings to dissuade unauthorized people from accessing sensitive and non-public areas works toward this goal.
But you can do your part by exercising the same security practices at school and in the workplace as you do in your own home.
Would you go to sleep at home with your front door unlocked? Don't do it in residence, either. Would you wander around Vancouver streets alone at 1 a.m.? Don't do it on campus, then. Would you let a complete stranger into your house when you're alone? Avoid it it at SFU, too.
Locking doors and closing curtains/windows as applicable may seem very basic, but the positive effects that such steps can have are immeasurable.
Trusting your instincts, being aware of your surroundings and knowing the resources available is the best way for everyone to enhance their personal safety.
• Be alert. Don’t assume that you are always safe. Think about your safety everywhere. Your best protection is avoiding dangerous situations.
• If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave.
• If you observe any unusual activity, report it immediately to Security.
• Always walk, drive, and park your car in well-lit areas.
• Walk to your car with keys in your hand. Walk confidently at a steady pace. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys.
• Never give the impression that you are alone if a stranger telephones or comes to the door.
• If a stranger asks to use your phone, have him wait outside while you make the call.
• If you find a door or window open or signs of forced entry, don’t go in. Go to the nearest phone and call Security.
Valuable tips on personal safety and security can be found in a special guide from Campus Security. It is available as a http://www.sfu.ca/security/files/PDF/safetydraftJuly21.pdf . (PDF) (Please note that all phone numbers in it now are 778-782-xxxx numbers, where xxxx is the last four digits of the old number.)
6. Questions, concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns about personal safety please contact SFU’s Personal Security Coordinator (all campuses): Laura MacDonald, phone 778-782-5450 or by e-mail at laura_macdonald@sfu.ca
7. Emergency numbers
For immediate attention to pressing matters of personal security, contact your campus security team at the following emergency numbers:
• Burnaby 778-782-4500
• Surrey 778-782-7511
• Vancouver 778-782-5252
8. Coming up
As well, the university is working on a number of measures to upgrade Security and emergency communications plans.
These will include a system for mass text-messaging, electronic notice boards in key locations, emergency website protocols and more.
You and Campus Security, Partners In Safety.
Vern May
Assistant Director
Campus Security
778-782-5898