Campus Community Safety Will be the Focus of University Moonlight Safety Walk on Thursday Night

In an effort to ensure safety on and around campus, California State University, Chico invites the campus and surrounding community to participate in a Moonlight Safety Walk on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m. The event is co-organized by the Associated Students Community Affairs Council, the Public Safety Advisory Committee and University Police Department.

Participants will gather at the Bell Memorial Union (BMU), Room 220G, and while they enjoy pizza and refreshments, they will learn about safety precautions in place at CSU, Chico, including the Blue Light Phones and Campus Connection Shuttle Service.

At approximately 7 p.m., the participants will divide into 10 groups to walk through campus as well as areas north and south of campus. Everyone will be provided with a map of their area and a clipboard to record the location and type of safety hazard they find. UPD officers will walk with the on-campus groups, and testing of campus Blue Light Phones will also take place.

After they finish their hour-long walk, participants are encouraged to return to BMU Room 220G to debrief and discuss the hazards they came across, such as inadequate lighting, overgrown vegetation, or other concerns.

AS Commissioner of Community Affairs Alejandra Becerra Silva said regular safety walks such as this are important since safety on and around campus is the University’s top priority.

“We want to make sure our students feel safe not only on campus but also outside of campus once they step out into the community,” she said. “And it’s important to address these concerns.”

For more than a decade, participants of the Moonlight Safety Walk have helped identify areas of concern regarding safety issues and have helped with solutions to make improvements. Campus administrators, student government leaders, staff and faculty members, and students typically take part in the walk. Any identified safety concerns are entered into a database and reviewed by University Police, the Public Safety Advisory Committee, Facilities Management and Services, and other relevant campus departments. Any safety issues noted within the City of Chico’s jurisdiction are passed along to city officials.

Safety walk participants are urged to wear closed-toed shoes during the event, and they will be provided with flashlights. Group leads will wear safety vests.

Please contact University Police Chief John Reid for further information at 530-898-5555.

Those who require an accommodation in order to participate in the Moonlight Safety Walk or who have questions about accessibility may contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.