Campus Safety: Message to the Campus Community

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Posted by: admin on October 28, 2011, No Comments

I am deeply concerned, as I know all of us throughout the campus community are concerning the recent safety alerts of reported incidents where ESU students have been the victims of criminal assault. The majority of these serious incidents have not occurred on campus, except for an attempted strong armed robbery, but all have involved students as the victims of serious crime. Regardless of where such crimes occur, my and the university’s number one priority is the safety of our students and all members of the campus community. The East Stroudsburg University, Stroud Area Regional, and State Police Departments are working collectively with the District Attorney’s Office in actively investigating these incidents as well as adding additional patrols and police presence on and off campus.

As you know, campus safety alerts, including advisories on personal safety guidelines were issued to students and the entire campus community as soon as all the details of each of the crimes were known. A safety advisory forum and program for students and the campus community was held last Friday evening by campus and local police in Lenape Hall and a series of safety programs are being scheduled now and will be announced shortly.

Clearly there has been extensive media coverage of these crimes which has contributed to a state of heightened anxiety about safety on and off the ESU campus.  In one instance the media inaccurately indicated that one of the sexual assaults occurred on campus while the student was walking to her residence hall from a parking area.  The one commonality in the recently reported incidents on and off campus is that in most of these incidents, students were alone and walking late at night.  To ensure that appropriate and accurate information is being communicated to all campus community members, the series of safety advisory forums and trainings of student groups and organizations are designed to share the steps the university is taking in the interest of the safety and well-being of our entire community, and of course, to re-enforce what steps people should take to protect themselves.

I urge everyone to take advantage of one or more of the safety programs and trainings which will be forthcoming shortly.  We will continue to communicate and update the entire university community about these incidents, safety programs, and, when practical, the progress of the criminal investigation(s).

You can be assured that whether you attend the university, work here, or have a son or daughter enrolled, our undeterred vigilance is to ensure that ESU is not just a wonderful academic setting in which to pursue goals and dreams, but also a safe place to study, live and work.