With summer’s scorching weather upon us, many students are staying out later and later at night. It is important to know where to go, what to do and who to call if you encounter an unsafe situation.
“Travel with people, not alone,” said Lt. Tracey Miller of the Campus Public Safety Office (CPSO). “If you dial [503-725-4407] there is the escort program and you can have someone walk you where you need to go.”
The 24-hour Public Safety Escort Service is “no questions asked, we won’t check your ID or look at how many times you’ve called,” said CPS officer W.R. Nylander.
There are blue phones located around campus, 34 in all, which you can also use if you need assistance. The blue phones connect you with a CPS dispatcher and send an officer to that location.
“Someone will respond [to the blue phone location] even if you don’t say anything,” said Nylander.
If you are walking home late at night, make sure you choose a route where there are still businesses open, such as an all-night convenience store.
“You can also call [the CPSO] to let us know that it is late but lights have not come on yet,” said Nylander.
“People crimes are not as big as property crimes,” said Nylander of the types of incidents on campus.
Within the past few weeks, there have been a few car break-ins, someone was arrested for graffiti around campus and there was a robbery where the witnesses were able to identify the subject, said Miller.
“Every student out there is our eyes and ears,” said Nylander.
It is important for students to keep in mind that we are still in a downtown setting.
“We try to be like a small community, but we are in Downtown Portland,” said Nylander.
For your safety and the safekeeping of your property, secure your doors and windows, especially if you are on the first floor.
Campus Public Safety also offers free bicycle registration online at www.pdx.edu/cpso/property-registration to help you recover your bike if it is stolen.
Miller stressed the importance of not letting your valuables out of sight.
“We have had some instances of people getting up to use the bathroom and they return and find their laptop is gone,” said Miller.
Nylander added, “Put your property out of sight. There are predators who wait for that exact thing.”
For your overall safety around campus, know where the nearest blue phones are and make sure you have the important phone numbers added to your cell phone to call if you are in trouble.