Common Sense: Your Guide to Safe Urban Living

Safety Awareness Program

Our Safety Awareness Program was established based on the recommendations of a task force composed of students, faculty, and staff. The program is monitored by the standing Committee on Crime Prevention and Security on Campus and in the Neighborhood. In addition to this publication, which is distributed throughout the University community, the Safety Awareness Program has several components:

• Presentations on crime prevention are offered by the Office of the Vice-President and Dean of Students in the University in coordination with the University Police and their full-time Crime Prevention Officer, both routinely and in response to special requests from members of the University community.

• Orientation programs for incoming students and new employees include presentations on security procedures and crime prevention.

• Safety Tips are posted on twenty specially designated bulletin boards around campus. Safety Tips suggest general precautions to keep in mind at work, at home, and in the city.

• Safety Awareness Alerts are occasionally issued in addition to the above sources of information about safety and prevention. They inform members of the University community about crimes or crime patterns. The alerts are intended to help individuals make prudent safety decisions and remain aware of general safety issues.

1. the police believe particular precautions are warranted to avoid encountering an offender; or
2. an unusually violent crime—such as sexual assault or homicide—has been reported, or a crime has become immediately notorious; the alert is intended to replace rumor with facts; or
3. a crime against a person occurs within the University campus area.

Safety Awareness Alerts briefly describe what happened, when, and where, but only describe the offender if the victim’s report is sufficiently detailed. Safety Awareness Alerts do not identify the victim by name, exact address, or University affiliation, nor do they report domestic crimes or crimes where the victim knows the offender. Concerns about privacy should not discourage people from reporting crimes.

Alerts are posted on twenty designated bulletin boards around campus. They are removed from the security bulletin boards within several days so that new alerts will be more readily noticed. Alerts are also distributed by fax to offices throughout the University.

University Committees That Address Public Safety Issues

Committee on Crime Prevention and Security on Campus and in the Neighborhood

This committee advises the President of the University on a wide range of matters that may impact the safety of members of the University community or their property. To contact the committee with suggestions or concerns, call the Office of Community Affairs at 702-6815 or send e-mail to sauc@uchicago.edu.

Independent Review Committee for the UCPD

The Independent Review Committee for the UCPD consists of University faculty members, students, and staff; and community members. The committee’s charge is to evaluate all complaints relating to issues of excessive force, violation of rights, and abusive language brought against the University Police Department. The committee reviews the actions of the UCPD in handling such complaints and makes recommendations as necessary to the Vice-President for Community and Government Affairs regarding improvements to departmental policies and procedures. More information on the UCPD complaint process can be found at www.oca.uchicago.edu/safety/police/feedback.shtml.