To: All Faculty <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Richard Wheeler & Renee Romano" <Provost@illinois.edu>

Reply-To: Provost@illinois.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Campus Safety

The campus district has experienced a rise in crime against individuals 
this semester. From September 1, 2010, to November 30, 2010, aggravated 
assaults and batteries are up to 14 from 12 during the same time period 
in 2009. During that same time period, criminal sexual assaults have 
increased to 8 in 2010 from 6 in 2009, and robberies increased to 20 in 
2010 from 6 in 2009. Widespread awareness of this situation has 
intensified somewhat by more aggressive practices for reporting crimes in 
the campus area and has distressed students and their families, those of 
us who work on campus, and the larger University of Illinois community.  

Several measures have been put in place to address those areas of the 
campus district most directly affected by increases in crime. For some 
examples, the Chancellor has authorized Chief Barbara OConnor to add 
three officers, and three additional appointments are planned. The campus 
police force, working hundreds of hours of overtime, has stepped up 
patrols in areas where crimes have occurred. Campus police officials are 
working especially closely with the Champaign police, but also the Urbana 
police, the Champaign County Sherriff, and the State Police. Much of the 
campus is now reached through surveillance cameras and more are being 
installed. Several arrests have been made. A security firm has been hired 
to monitor activities in residence halls, and hundreds of new locks have 
been installed in residence hall bathrooms. Student patrols have been 
increased. The SafeWalks program has been augmented, and is available 
earlier in the evening, and the SafeRides program is also a good resource 
for students. 

A group of student leaders has been meeting to develop a safety awareness 
campaign they are calling I-Watch: A Community that Cares. Because you, 
as faculty, have extensive contacts with students, the student group 
would like to invite you to join in creating a safer campus community. 

Here are some of the students suggestions:

-Talk to your students about safety. Remind them at the end of class to 
be cautious, call SafeRides or SafeWalks, or walk in groups, especially 
if its after dark 
-Include information about safety resources, which will include emergency 
phone numbers, in your syllabi
-Have the last slide of your power point lecture illustrate safety bullet 
points and have it on screen as students leave the room
-Distribute safety cards and warning whistles as appropriate
-If you have night classes, tests or finals scheduled, you may call UIPD 
at 333-1216 and let them know the time and location of the session so 
that they can be aware of the situation. Tell your students to consider 
calling SafeWalks for a walk home after the class or test. 

If you chose to participate in this safety initiative, you are invited to 
go to www.studentaffairs.illinois.edu/iwatchfaculty.html for information 
for course syllabi, the power point slide, information to obtain cards 
and whistles and other resources. The UIPD website is also an excellent 
resource www.dps.illinois.edu.

Thank you for helping make the University of Illinois a safer campus. 
Working together, we can help make the end of classes and finals week as 
safe as possible for our students, and bring a new level of safety to the 
new year.

Renee Romano, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Richard Wheeler, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs




This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

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