Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
It is wonderful to see our campus full of life once again. Our entire Department of Public Safety (DPS) team has enjoyed seeing all the new and returning faces over the past couple of weeks. I hope everyone has settled in nicely as the semester gets underway.
If you haven’t yet, please review the communication that was sent out last week which highlighted important safety resources and services. Additionally, I have several updates to provide today, including the following:
- Orange Safe App Milestone
- Evacuation Assistance Request Form Available in MySlice
- Community Police Academy and R.A.D.
- DPS Community Engagement Events
- Employee of the Month
- Monthly Bias Update
Orange Safe App Milestone
Recently, Orange Safe eclipsed 10,000 downloads. It is encouraging to see how receptive our campus community has been to the app. We plan to celebrate 10,000 downloads by rewarding some of those who have downloaded the app. Please be sure to follow us on social media for your chance to win.
If you haven’t downloaded Orange Safe yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. Orange Safe is a free app that provides several tools designed to keep you safe. Users can stay connected and receive important campus notifications, communicate with campus safety and gain access to resources needed most. To learn more and download today, visit our website at dps.syr.edu.
Evacuation Assistance Request Form Available in MySlice
Students, faculty and staff with temporary or permanent disabilities, or other mobility-related concerns, can now request various types of assistance during an emergency evacuation on campus. This includes wheelchair users, individuals who are blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, sensitive to noises and/or crowds, in need of text/written communications and more. To request assistance, log in to MySlice, navigate to the “Personal Profile” tile and select “Evacuation Assistance Request” from the menu. Read more on SU News.
Community Police Academy and R.A.D.
Our DPS team is still accepting applications for our Community Police Academy and registrations for our R.A.D. self-defense course. Please review the following information to determine if these programs may be of interest to you:
Community Police Academy: This is a free four-week program designed to give eligible students, faculty and staff an idea of what it’s like to protect and serve our campus community. For the Fall 2023 semester, the classes will be held every Wednesday in October from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in 020 Lyman Hall.
R.A.D. Self-Defense Course: R.A.D. is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. The R.A.D. system is a comprehensive course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, and progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. For the Fall 2023 semester, the classes will be held the first four Sundays of October from 5 to 8 p.m. in Skybarn on South Campus.
To learn more and register, visit our website.
Community Engagement Events
Our DPS team is always looking for opportunities to connect with our campus community. Here are some events our team has planned throughout the month of September:
DPS Game Nights: Game nights will be held again this semester in the Schine Student Center! There will be a PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Oculus Quest available for use, or just stop by to chat with DPS staff. You can find us in the Schine from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Sept. 12 and 26.
Reassurance Station: In partnership with Title IX and Apartment and Off-Campus Living, DPS has launched a “Reassurance Station” on weekend evenings. This past weekend the event saw nearly 1,000 students stop by where our team was setup at 401 Euclid Ave., outside of Lyons Hall. Representatives from the aforementioned offices provided snacks while they reminded students of important safety tips and answered any questions that students had. The “Reassurance Station” will be setup once again the next two nights (Sept. 8 and Sept. 9) from 9 p.m. to midnight outside of Lyons Hall. Please feel free to stop by and say hello to those stationed at the table!
As always, we welcome your suggestions on other events we can host that allow our officers and our community to get to know each other better. Be sure to mark your calendar and follow us on social media (@syracusedps) for more information on these events.
Employee of the Month
Officer Jessica Mehlek has been selected as our August 2023 Employee of the Month. Officer Mehlek is being recognized for the role she played in diffusing a physical domestic dispute. Thanks to her timely response and ability to perform under pressure, the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Congratulations to Officer Mehlek on a job well done!
Monthly Bias Update
Aug. 30: Two Syracuse University students reported being called the N-word by an individual unknown to them in the fourth-floor hallway of Flint Hall. The reporting students said the slur was used by an individual in a group of four to five women.
Update: DPS has met with the reporting students to gather additional information. Multiple canvasses and interviews have been conducted, along with an extensive review of CCTV footage. The Syracuse Police Department and New York State Police have been notified. If anyone has relevant information regarding this incident, we ask that you reach out to us.
Aug. 27: A Syracuse University employee reported hearing an antisemitic slur from a passing car. The driver was identified as a non-affiliate who claims he was misheard. Due to a lack of witnesses and security footage with audio, the investigation has been closed due to inconclusive evidence.
It is also never too late to come forward with information. You can call DPS at 315.443.2224 or submit information anonymously via the Silent Witness tool. In addition, to report a bias incident or to receive support, visit the STOP Bias website.
Stay safe and have a productive start to the semester.
Go Orange!
Chief Craig Stone
Department of Public Safety
Student Experience Division