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Health & Safety

Keep safety in mind when returning to campus

The University is committed to the protection of its students, faculty, staff, patients and visitors from foreseeable harm. That includes having well-defined and rehearsed emergency plans; strong technical support and multiple methods for delivering emergency messages; and the means to call together a multi-discipline case crisis team should troubling behavior be reported.

There are more than 110 officers and staff members assigned throughout the University, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although officers are not sworn or armed, they respond to calls of any nature, including all campus emergencies—fire, accidents, physical crimes, and disturbances. A wide range of non-emergency-related services is also available to the University community.

The University maintains a network of more than 500 interior and exterior public access telephones from which the Security Communication Center can be contacted for assistance any time. Included are more than150 direct-dial Blue Light Emergency Phones, 149 elevator phones, 7 areas of rescue phones, 126 service phones (checked by Security), and over 100 interior and exterior service telephones.

• In an emergency, dial 13 from any University phone, including service phones located at building entrances. From any cell phone dial (585) 275-3333. You may dial #413 from AT&T or Verizon cell phones (a free call). Simply pick up a Blue Light Emergency Phone located on or near walkways and parking lots and you will be connected to one of our emergency dispatchers automatically. An officer will be sent to your location right away. Local police, fire or ambulance agencies will be notified as needed. (Currently, if you call 911 from within the University phone system, your exact location will not be displayed to the 911 system operator.)
• For non-emergencies dial x5-3333 from any University phone. You may also use a Blue Light Emergency Phone.
• The dispatcher will determine first that you are safe. Once that is known you will be asked for your name and location, as well as descriptive information about the incident or event with which you are involved. This information will assist the responding security officer(s) and the police or other emergency responders.
• You may contact an on-duty supervisor, 24 hours a day, by calling x5-3333.
• For crime prevention services, call x5-2220. For investigative services, call x5-3436. For victim assistance, call x5-3108.

In 2008 the University introduced AlertUR as a new emergency notification system that uses e-mails, text messages, cell phones, and other devices to send simultaneous warnings during critical situations. All undergraduates are enrolled automatically through their campus e-mail address. Students are encouraged to log on to the subscription site at www.rochester.edu/alertur to add their personal phone, cellular, and text message contact information. The system is tested each semester. To be most effective, students should immediately update any changes to phone numbers, e-mails, and other contact information. More information about emergency procedures, and campuswide resources in an emergency is available at www.rochester.edu/emergency.

For several years, University Security has provided safety updates and other important security notices to the community via e-mail. Undergraduate students receive these notices automatically. Parents are invited to sign up to receive them, as well. Visit www.security.rochester.edu/notify. You may remove yourself from the mailing list at any time.

The University's annual security report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by the University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the University's campuses. The report also includes institutional policies regarding campus security, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report, titled Think Safe, by contacting University Security Services at (585) 275-3340, or view the contents by accessing University Security's web site.

Information on sexual harassment policies and procedures is published in the brochure Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, which is available by calling the Intercessor's Office at (585) 275-9125.

University Security encourages everyone in the community to incorporate good safety practices into their daily habits. Please take a moment to review these safety tips. If you have any questions, feel free to call the University's Crime Prevention Office at (585) 275-2220.

Safety Tips:

Heads up
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Display a sense of confidence when walking
• Avoid hats or other items that obstruct your vision and earphones that impair your hearing

Buddy up
• Walk with someone whenever possible, there is safety in numbers
• Take the bus or request an escort when traveling alone at night

Lighten up
• Carry only the cash and credit cards you expect to need
• Don't burden yourself with bulky or heavy items that would be easy to snatch or make you unsteady when walking

Give it up
• If your wallet or purse or bookbag is forcibly taken—don't fight back—turn it over rather than risk personal injury. Report the incident to Security immediately

Lock it up
• Close and lock the door when leaving your office or residence (over 90 percent of all thefts occur from unlocked or unattended areas)
• Lock all doors when driving and after parking your car
• Secure your bicycle in a bike rack with a quality U-shaped lock.
• Do not hold the door open and admit strangers to secure buildings
• Never prop doors open, especially fire doors
• Do not attach your ID to your keys or mark your keys with your name or address (this could lead a criminal back to your room—or to you)

Cover it up
• If you need to store valuables in your car, place them out of sight or lock them in the trunk
• Secure your purse, wallet or other valuables in a locked drawer or cabinet in your office or residence

Call Security up
• Immediately call Security at x13 in an emergency or x5-3333 for a non-emergency to report any crime, suspicious activity or to discuss any other safety concern. From any cell phone, dial (585) 275-3333. From AT&T or Verizon cell phones, dial #413 (a free call).

For more information, visit www.security.rochester.edu.