Washburn to provide safety to all students, faculty and staff (Edit)

Parents and students can both take comfort in knowing that Washburn University strives to keep safety a priority on and off campus. A big part of the maturing process is realizing that as a student, you are now in charge of your own safety. 

Washburn University Police Department officers patrol campus at all times on bikes, foot and car. The officers check the inside of and around the outside of buildings, patrol the parking lots and continuously walk or bike around campus. There are uniformed officers who patrol all academic building in and out of session.

For those times when a police officer is not in the area or in sight, Washburn Police also monitor 13 “Help Phones,” placed strategically throughout campus along heavily traveled walkways. All of these phones immediately dial the WUPO when the button is pushed. A blue light is mounted above the phone boxes, making them easy to spot at night.

Washburn also has an emergency alert notification system, called iAlert. The system was implemented to communicate important alerts and emergency response information to students, faculty and staff. The system is also specific for Washburn University only.

“When an iAlert is sent all users will receive an email at their Washburn email address,” says the Washburn website. “Users can also choose to receive the alerts via text message and telephone calls by enrolling their telephone numbers.”

You can find more info and register to receive iAlerts by visiting the Washburn website and entering “iAlert” in the search box.

Another way Washburn is making college life safer for students, is the use of the free transportation system. In addition to the Topeka Metro bus route that students can ride for free with their Washburn ID, students can use a campus-based taxi system, Safe Ride, to get home after a late night on the town. The only downside is that the buses stop running at 6:10 p.m. Rather than putting yourself and others in danger, Washburn wants to make it easy for students to make the smart decision. When you and your friends are ready to call it a night, just dial 267-3777 and ask for a Safe Ride. The dispatcher will ask for your ID number and send a free taxi to take you home.

Theft tends to be the crime of choice in Topeka as well as on Washburn's campus. You can register your valuables with either the Washburn or Topeka Police to increase your chance of item recovery in the event of theft occuring.

Fire prevention is another item that is often completely overlooked when examining safety precautions, yet each year college students experience fire-related emergencies. There are several specific causes for a fire on campus, including cooking, intentionally setting fires, overloaded power strips and an open flame. It is important that both off-campus and on-campus students understand fire risks and know the preventative measures that could save their lives. Recommendations for fire, or general safety, in all types of housing can be found by talking to a person in charge, either a resident assistant or the landlord. 

For more about Washburn safety and the procedures used on campus, visit www.washburn.edu/police.