CSU East Bay’s University Police Department held the first Campus Safety Week that started on Monday and consisted of eight workshops designed for students and faculty.
The UPD teamed up with CSUEB administrators and Hayward community members to present the inaugural, weeklong event on campus. Police Officer Mark Engel and CSUEB Director of Credentials Student Services and Chair of the Community Policing Advisory Board Laty Johnson designed the new program, which is the first of its kind within the CSU system.
The UPD wants it to be like al Fresco, said Engel, who mentioned they “want this to cater to everyone,” not just students. Other university police chiefs have reached out to Engel about the event. He says they will propose this workshop program to CSU Chancellor Timothy White to make it statewide.
The UPD provided the campus community with multiple workshops, some of which focused on workplace safety, emergency evacuation and alcohol awareness.
“Safety is about 80 percent perception–how safe do you feel?” said CSUEB Police Chief Sheryl Boykins, who came up with the idea.
Boykins also discussed safety at night and the importance for students and faculty to walk across campus in the evening and not be afraid. UPD provides services for any student or faculty to call and be escorted to their car. But aside from special campus services, UPD focused this Campus Safety Week on being prepared and aware.
On Tuesday, UPD teamed up with Gale Bleth, from the Hayward Police Department who previously worked at CSUEB as a self-defense instructor. Bleth held the Rape Aggression Defense workshop to teach women about mental and physical awareness.
“We want it to become second-nature,” said Bleth, who repeatedly practiced the routines with the students.
Women who attended the 2-hour workshop were taught how to defend themselves physically by blocking, punching and kicking techniques.
“I feel more confident,” said student Lindsay Franco. “Before I took this class I thought I knew what to do but I didn’t. She really taught us how to defend ourselves.”
Johnson attended the RAD class on Tuesday and helped design the new weeklong program and participated in one of the many workshops.
“Having the education, awareness and being prepared in case something happens on or off campus is most important,” said Johnson.
Two weeks ago, there was a shooter incident at San Jose State University, which caused concern on campus. UPD presented a new active shooter presentation to CSUEB Concord campus and will be presenting it to the Hayward campus on Thursday, October 24th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the New University Union.
“We recently re-designed our entire active shooter presentation,” said Police Officer Mark Engel, “We want to get the staff and faculty informed about active shooter response.
Boykins has already been contacted by multiple CSU’s who want to take part in Campus Safety Week. She hopes to get all CSU’s involved across the state and for CSUEB to be the pilot university of the program.
Though Campus Safety week is only presented for 5 days, the services available to student, faculty and staff are always available.
“It’s about getting the community involved,” said Boykins, “The feeling of being safe comes from confidence level and even if it weren’t safety week we should be promoting this.
