As in any community how safe that community is can depend on the residents that live there. The residents can simply report crimes as they occur or they can educate themselves in ways to prevent crimes from occurring in the first place. The University Police Department would like to be partners with the University community in taking a proactive approach through crime prevention. The University Police Department will develop and present programs on most any subject relating to crime and crime prevention. The department’s hall liaison officers present many of these programs. Students and hall staff should contact the University Police Department, or their hall liaison officer, if they have concerns about safety in and around their buildings.
One area of concern, not just at UW Oshkosh but nationally, involves underage drinking and/or binge drinking. Often, drinking is thought to be part of college life. What is often forgotten is the vandalism, civil disobedience, and unwanted sexual encounters that can and do occur as a result of drinking. The University’s AODA Task Force committee examines and discusses the current attitudes and practices regarding drinking on college campuses. Officer Brad Hanson is a member of this committee.
One program that the University Police Department participates in is the Healthy Choices program. Officers of the department provide information about fines and penalties associated with liquor law violations. They also talk about some of the consequences encountered as a result of underage drinking. Another program the department participates in is the “Options” program. The Options program is offered, through Winnebago County to first time offenders of the State’s liquor laws. The program is not mandatory but those who successfully complete the program will have their underage possession/consumption citation dismissed. Both programs are designed to educate students to make wise decisions relating to alcohol use.
The University Police Department’s officers hope to make the university community a safe environment to live and work through education and awareness.
In 1998 the UW Oshkosh Police Department along with the Department of Residence Life started the Residence Hall Liaison Officer program. The liaison program was developed to encourage a better working relationship with hall staff and students that reside in the residence halls. University police officers are assigned on a voluntary basis to halls that request to participate in the program. The hall liaison officers became “part-time’ members of the hall staff.
Officers involved in the program are Officer Laura England and Officer Adam Stublaski. Officer England has been involved in the program since the beginning while Officer Stublaski has been involved for approximately 3 years. The two officers split the responsibilities of the program to better benefit the residence halls. Both officers are actively involved in North and South Scott Hall and Fletcher Hall. The officers conduct walk throughs of the halls to discover security discrepancies and suggest corrective measures. Liaison officers also attend hall government meetings and hall staff meetings. They educate residents about the importance of safety and take a proactive approach in reducing the number of thefts that occur in the residence halls.
Officers England and Stublaski present programs to the halls on issues that affect the residents. Programs on underage drinking, sexual assault, personal safety, drug identification, hate crimes and crime prevention are offered.
The hall liaison office is located on the first floor of Fletcher Hall and continues to expand. This past year a computer was installed in the office.
This year the liaison officers participated in the Polar Plunge 2001 to raise funds for the Special Olympics. The officers collected $800.00 in donations from several halls and from individuals. The liaison officers teamed up with Scott Hall staff and participated in the annual Lincoln School Trick or Treat program. The officers passed out candy and helped escort the grade school students around the residence halls.
Liaison officers teamed up with the Dean of Students and Peer Resource Organization (PRO) to promote alcohol awareness and drug abuse awareness. The officers used the Drunk Buster goggles and developed an interactive program where the audience is allowed to experience being intoxicated without actually drinking any alcoholic beverages. The participation level is very high and the feedback on this program has been very positive.
The liaison officers participated in the fall and mid year training for new and experienced Community Advisors (CA). They trained the CA’s in drug and alcohol issues that they may encounter while in the residence halls. The officers were also members of the Selection Committees for hiring new Residence Hall Directors and Assistant Residence Hall Directors.
In February of 2001 South Scott Hall nominated Officers England and Stublaski for an OTM, which stands for “ Of the Month” award for their participation in the Polar Plunge. The National Residence Hall Honorary presents this award for the recognition of an individual(s) dedication to the university’s residence halls and community. The award is given out monthly. Along with the OTM, Officers England and Stublaski received an award from United Students in Residence Hall (USRH) for their continual dedication and support to the campus and surrounding community.
Also this year Officer England and Stublaski attended a session on Community Policing in a Campus setting. The session was sponsored by UW Green Bay Police Department. The session allowed the officers to discuss and further develop the hall liaison program with ideas and programs from other universities. Along with the training sessions, the officers became members of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association (WCPA) to develop working relationships with other university police departments.
During the past year our goals were exceeded. For the upcoming year we are hopeful that we can expand the liaison program to include the surrounding community and academic environment.