Orientation - Bloomsburg University

Be safe at BU

You help prevent campus crime

Bloomsburg University police hear more often than they wish: "But I only left my room for a minute and didn't want to bother locking the door..."

In the context of national crime statistics, Bloomsburg University is a fairly safe place to be. The vast majority of students are honest, decent, caring people. But there always exceptions in a group of more than 8,000 people. Keeping BU safe is the endless task of university police - the largest armed police force in Columbia County and with all the professionalism of the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police.

But safety is a community effort, involving care and attention by everyone.

Protecting valuables

Campus crime almost invariably involves carelessness with personal property and alcohol abuse, and police continually urge students to be careful and thus help reduce crime. Your room is your home; would you leave your home unlocked?

Be proactive

Using caution to protect your valuables doesn't need to signal distrust of fellow students or their visitors. Because thefts are often a result of monetary need and crimes of opportunity, you're doing someone a favor by not presenting temptation. Be sure your roommate understands you don't plan to leave the room empty and unlocked, even for a minute, and that you lock up your valuables because you just don't want to deal with the loss of something precious to you.

Petty theft, particularly in residence halls, is an ongoing matter of concern. Most targeted are small valuables: cell phones, I-pods, wallets, portable DVD players, loose money, jewelry. Steps you can take to prevent loss:

When you leave your dorm room, even for a moment, even to go to the restroom or visit the student next door, lock the door.
Bring a small safe or lockbox, available at most office supply stores, with you and keep your valuables in it. A small 20 to 40-pound safe is relatively inexpensive and will give you a place to store your valuables and effectively eliminate chance of theft.
Don't leave your designer clothing unattended in residence hall laundries.
Don't leave valuables clearly visible in parked cars, and lock your car.
Don't take valuable with you to the Student Recreation Center and don't use the convenience storage bins; instead, use a locker and lock it.
Borrow an engraving tool from University Police and mark larger items with your driver's license number, then provide an inventory to the police.
Be especially vigilant just before holidays and breaks; that's when most thefts occur.

Drugs and alcohol

Alcohol abuse is common in all college communities, and most problems occur as a result of off-campus parties. Virtually all the alcohol-related arrests on campus are a result of residence hall advisers or other students contacting university police because of concern for the safety of an intoxicated student.

Police say these incidents are not a joking matter. In addition to rescuing students who have passed out somewhere between the party and the dorm - especially in winter - reports indicate that intoxicated students are particularly susceptible to assault, including sexual assault, robbery, and self-injury. Students convicted of alcohol related crimes may also face obstacles in future employment where arrest records are important.

Neither alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are permitted on campus, but they are available near BU. Parents should be attentive to spending habits that may indicate the student has developed a drug or alcohol problem. BU offers an active anti-drug and alcohol program, but student responsibility counts most.

Campus safety features

Bloomsburg University's 282-acre campus is continually patrolled, especially on foot, by uniformed police. In addition, much of the campus is under constant video surveillance and there are emergency call boxes located in many locations. Students concerned about walking alone will be provided an escort on request.

All buildings are hard-wired with fire alarms and fire drills frequently test evacuation response. All residence hall rooms are equipped with sprinklers and smoking is not permitted in any campus building. Students may not keep a weapon of any kind on campus.

University Police work closely with Town of Bloomsburg Police and Pennsylvania State Police, routinely sharing information relating to crime and criminal investigations.