Good Morning Campus Community,
With the spring semester quickly moving along, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:
- In light of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Department of Public Safety would like to remind the campus community of their commitment to the Start by Believing campaign. Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign that is endorsed by End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI). Its purpose is to change the way communities respond to sexual assault. A negative response from friends, family, or law enforcement can worsen trauma in the survivor, diminish consequences for the predator, and lead to more victims. The Department of Public Safety is dedicated to fostering a more supportive environment for survivors of sexual assault and encourages reporting. Please also keep an eye out for the various events Counseling and Substance Abuse Services has planned for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
- The end of the semester is rapidly approaching. Please help us to help you avoid becoming a victim of crime. If you have a bicycle parked on campus, please remove it no later than May 8, 2016. All bicycles remaining after this date are subject to being removed by Public Safety. No bicycles should be left on campus during the summer break unless you are taking Summer classes. Please note all bikes secured on campus must be registered. Bikes may be registered at Public Safety at any time, free of charge. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at (843)953-4980.
- Finals week is a high stress time for all college students. Counseling and Substance Abuse Services is a free on-campus resource available to students experiencing issues such as stress and anxiety. CASAS also offers support through the Cougar Counseling Team, which is available Monday-Thursday, from 4pm – 9pm through the school year, and no appointment is needed. If you are concerned about the well-being of a student, you may submit an anonymous FAST report. These forms may be submitted by faculty, staff, and students.
- With increased activity in the library, please take the necessary precautions to protect your valuables. Never leave your laptop, textbooks, cell phone, or other items unattended. Textbooks become a tempting target to potential thieves, especially during textbook buy back time. You may register computers, phones, and other items of value at no charge by bringing the item to Public Safety. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.
Crime Prevention Tip:
Consider marking your textbooks with your name or an identifying number to help aid recovery efforts in the event they are stolen. Do not use your social security number; instead, consider your birth date or student ID number. Place the number on the same page number of all of your books.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Take Care and Be Safe,
PSO Madeline M. Sloan
Department of Public Safety
Crime Prevention Specialist
Office of the President
89 St. Philip Street
Charleston, SC 29424
(843)953-5609
