In late September of this year, the Office of Campus Safety published their 2021 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. According to the report, Andrews University had one reported rape sex offense, two fondling sex offenses, two burglary offenses, one drug abuse violation, and one liquor law violation on-campus during the 2020 calendar year. Furthermore, two on-campus intimidation offenses are noted under the category of hate crimes. The Office of Campus Safety explains that these cases included bias related to ethnicity, gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation. For 2019, the report lists two fondling sex offenses, five burglary offenses, one dating violence offense, and one stalking offense on-campus. Finally, two burglary offenses, one arson offense, two drug abuse violations, one domestic violence offense, and four stalking offenses on-campus were reported for 2018.
Students of Andrews University can choose to receive emergency warnings and alerts through AU Alert. Timely warnings could be issued because of incidents of murder, aggravated assault, robbery involving force or violence, sexual assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, or major incidents of arson, as well as others. Emergency notifications are issued because of hazards, acts or threats of violence, natural disasters, or environmental situations and include directions to be followed. They will also be announced on the University radio station, WAUS 90.7 FM.
For students or employees who may be out at night, The Office of Campus Safety encourages walking or riding with someone else, staying away from isolated areas, trying to walk or park near street lights, holding your purse tightly, and respecting campus curfew. Additionally, anyone walking on campus can ask for a safety escort by calling Campus Safety; the safety escort will be in uniform and have identification.
In regards to fire safety, the report notes that any building occupants who see fire or smoke should activate a fire alarm pull station and leave the building. Then, they should call 911. Those who hear a fire alarm must leave the building through the nearest safe exit. Anyone who does not leave or re-enters before an all-clear is given will receive a fine. To mitigate the occurrence of fires, smoking is prohibited on Andrews University property, as well as connecting multiple extension cords or power strips, power strips plugged into extension cords, multi plugs or adapters, frayed or spliced cables, and altering of prongs.
On-campus resources for reporting crimes or accessing help and information include:
- Campus Safety: 269-471-3321, 269-471-3338 (for anonymous tips), or Campus Safety
- University Student Intervention Team (USIT): usit@andrews.edu
- Counseling and Testing Center: 269-471-3470
- Campus Ministries: 269-471-3211
- Academic Support Services: 269-471-6096
- Andrews University Plant Services: 269-471-3380
- Andrews University School Closing: 269-471-7660
- Andrews University Transportation Night Emergency: 269-471-6492
Additionally, there are many off-campus resources including:
- Local Police Office: 269-471-2813
- University Medical Center: 269-473-2222
- Lakeland Regional Hospital: 269-800-2808
- Riverwood Mental Help line: 269-925-0585 or 800-336-0341
- Medic 1 Ambulance Services: 269-925-2141 or 1-800-557-1212
- SW MI Community Ambulance Services: 269-684-2170
- Samaritan Counseling Center: 269-926-6199
- Berrien County Child & Family Services/Safe Shelter: 269-925-1725 (if in crisis call 888-983-4275)
- Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission: 517-373-7373 (victims call 877-251-7373)
- Cass/St. Joseph County Domestic & Sexual Abuse Services: 269-279-5122 (if in crisis call 800-828-2023)
- S-O-S of the Family Justice Center: 574-234-6900
Hotlines and information lines include:
- Emergencies: 911
- Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network: 1-800-656-4673
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
- Child Abuse and Neglect: 1-800-422-4453
- Domestic and Sexual SVCS: 269-782-0304
- Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-4357
- Michigan Road Conditions (Statewide): 1-800-641-6368
- National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Let us all work together to make our campus a safe place to live, study, and work!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.