KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus, will hold its annual Safety Day on Wednesday, Sept. 2, to kick off National Campus Safety Awareness Month.
For the second year in a row, UT is one of several schools that will focus on safety awareness in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Security On Campus Inc. The group aims to prevent violence, substance abuse and other crimes on college and university campuses.
A ceremony will kick off the events at 11 a.m. on the Pedestrian Walkway and will include brief remarks from UT Dean of Students Maxine Davis, UT Police Department Interim Chief Debbie Perry and Security On Campus Inc. Director of Public Policy Daniel Carter.
After the ceremony, representatives from UT Police and UT’s Safety, Environment and Education (SEE) Center will be on hand to talk individually to students, faculty and staff about safety. There will be a property engraving station, DUI goggle demonstrations and UT ALERT sign ups.
Then, throughout the day, UT Police, students, faculty, staff and neighborhood representatives will staff tents at various sites on campus, as well as in the Fort Sanders neighborhood and Sutherland Village. Along with safety information and free food and giveaways, they’ll be providing personal safety tips and information about campus safety resources, such as the T:Link and T:Late Nite.
Safety Day activities will take place at these times and places:
- 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Presidential Courtyard; near the College of Law at Cumberland Avenue and James Agee Street; at the 11th Street Parking Garage (12th street entrance); and on the Pedestrian Walkway
- 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. — 16th Street at White Avenue, near Volunteer Hall
- 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — Sutherland Village apartments
“The safety of our students, faculty and staff is a key priority for the university. This day brings our community together to emphasize the many resources and tools with the hope that they will take advantage of them,” Davis said. “We want to help the members of our campus community make informed decisions and play an active role in improving our campus environment.”
UT’s Recent Safety Enhancements
Each year, UT Knoxville invests significant dollars in campus infrastructure designed to enhance the campus environment.
UT ALERT
More than 24,000 students, faculty and staff have subscribed to the UT ALERT text messaging system.
Upgrades to the UT ALERT notification system now allow UT Police to activate campus Code Blue telephones to light up and become loud speakers. The Code Blue phones are replacing the campus’ older blue light emergency phones, and not only provide direct access to the emergency dispatch center, but allow callers to connect with T:Link when in need of a ride. Upgrades to the Code Blue phones, including continued replacement of the previous emergency phones, will continue until 2011.
An additional component to the UT ALERT system known as REVERSE 911, will allow campus officials and police to send emergency messages simultaneously to all telephones in specific geographical areas of campus. The university’s goal is to have the ability to communicate with students, faculty, and staff regardless of their location while on campus.
Security Cameras
All non-commuter parking garages are in the process of being equipped with security cameras funded by grants received during the past year. More than $100,000 has been invested in these cameras, bringing the total number of security-related cameras to approximately 500, which includes those in residence halls.
University Housing also added new camera systems to Clement and Massey halls over the summer and has upgraded existing video surveillance systems in several additional residence halls.
Shuttle Services
The T:Link is a free on-demand shuttle service for individuals. Students, faculty and staff can call 974-4080 between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. to get a ride. The T:Late Nite is also available to students. T:Late Nite is a bus route that runs on campus and in Fort Sanders from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
New Law
Police and campus officials are trying to raise students’ awareness of a new law about underage drinking. The law prohibits any resident, owner, or occupant of property from allowing an underage adult to consume alcohol on their property. “Underage adults” is defined as individuals who are at least 18 years old, but younger than 21.
A resident may face criminal prosecution and university sanction if an underage adult consumes alcohol on his or her property which includes, but is not limited to, a residence hall room or apartment, fraternity- or sorority-affiliated housing, an off-campus house or apartment or any other property owned or occupied by the individual. Students are encouraged to learn more about campus rules and regulations at http://dos.utk.edu/hilltopics.
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C O N T A C T :
Rebekah Winkler, (865-974-8304, rwinkler@utk.edu)
Amy Blakely, (865-974-5034, amy.blakely@tennessee.edu)