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Dear Students,
Your safety on the MU campus and in adjoining neighborhoods in Columbia is of paramount concern to us and your families. We’re so grateful for the excellent work of our MUPD officers in ensuring a safe environment on campus. We’ve also made significant investments in lighting, advanced cameras with license plate readers and safety apps and training for your safety and well-being.
Downtown Columbia is one of the reasons that our university is so popular. There are excellent eateries, cultural venues and fun shops for our students to enjoy. But we are facing significant crime issues in downtown Columbia which is very unfortunate. The Columbia Police Department has increased patrols and other safety measures to address crime issues. The university along with Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe recently announced a set of immediate action items to improve public safety in downtown Columbia. We are very hopeful for the success of these actions.
But the success of public safety programs also requires some personal responsibility. There are things that you can do to be safe, and they include:
- Sign up for MU Alert notifications and make sure you’re following official channels for accurate information about incidents impacting campus safety.
- Incidents downtown typically occur between midnight and 3 a.m.; make sure you’re home safely before then.
- Review the Mizzou Campus Safety module in Canvas.
- Download and use the MizzouSafe App for Friend Walks, incident reporting and to call MUPD for an escorted walk on campus.
- Travel with a friend or in a group.
- Sign up for and use STRIPES, our safe ride service powered by Uber that offers $10/month for rides from downtown to your residence on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Know your surroundings and report suspicious behavior. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. But you can contact MUPD anytime online or by phone if something doesn’t seem right.
We also have activities and events on campus as an alternative to downtown activities. Next week we’re hosting an event with Daisy Kent (10/8), a group bike ride (10/8), outdoor movie nights on Kuhlman Court (10/10 and 10/11) and so many others. You’ll find all your options in MU Engage.
Sincerely,
Mun Y. Choi, Ph.D.
President, University of Missouri
Angela King Taylor, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs