The following is a campus safety advisory from Chief of Police Gary Margolis.

UVM Students:

I am writing to you in response to concerns that have been raised related to the safety of students on campus.

As President Fogel stated last week, the university is reviewing security procedures and continuously working to address crime and safety issues.

I want to address several pressing issues:

1) Police Services is doing everything we can to apprehend the perpetrator in the Tupper Hall robbery.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call 656-TIPS (8477) or use our web-based crime reporting at http://www.uvm.edu/police/?Page=silent_witness.htm.

You can choose to identify yourself or remain anonymous.

2) Rumors are circulating that several sexual assaults occurred on campus in the last few days.

We have investigated these rumors and, to date, have no reports of a rash of rapes or other sexual assaults that confirm the rumors.

3) We know that under-reporting of date rape, acquaintance rape, and other forms of sexual assault remains a problem on campuses nationwide.

UVM is not immune from this difficult problem. Sexual assault is a serious concern to us, and we want to ensure that victims/survivors feel supported and that everyone is safe.

If cases go unreported, officials have no ability to intervene and victims/survivors don’t receive critical help and services available to them.

You may wish to visit the following web pages for information and resources designed to increase sexual assault awareness and prevention:

http://www.uvm.edu/~women/?Page=advocacy.html and http://www.uvm.edu/police/?Page=rad.htm.

UVM has an effective system in place to allow victims/survivors of sexual assault to safely and confidentially report incidents and seek the services they need. Please contact Anne Smith, our victim’s advocate in the Women’s Center at 656-7892, if you need help or further information.

In light of these issues, I am reminding all students about the essential role you play in improving your own safety and the safety of everyone on campus. Let me highlight a few simple but effective measures you can take to reduce your risk:

a.. If you must walk alone after dark, choose well-lit and well-traveled areas. Consider using campus transportation.

b.. Be aware of your environment and trust your instincts; unusual or suspicious circumstances should be reported to Police Services at 6-3473.

c.. Keep your residence hall room locked at all times.

d.. Do not prop open exterior residence hall doors and re-secure propped doors.

e.. If you own a cell phone, carry it with you. Dial 911 in an emergency.

f.. Be aware of the location of blue lights around the campus.

g.. Report any suspicious activities such as suspected drug sale or use, strangers in the building, or other concerns to residence hall staff or UVM Police Services (6-3473, 6-TIPS, or http://www.uvm.edu/police/?Page=silent_witness.htm).

Please visit http://www.uvm.edu/police/?Page=crimeprevention.htm for additional crime prevention and risk reduction information.

We are working hard to ensure that UVM’s campus is as safe and secure for all students as possible, but we can’t do it alone. We must work together in this effort and I hope you will do your part.