Meet Olivia Gammill! Olivia is a freshman Industrial Engineering and German major from Nixa, MO. Olivia is involved in Alpha Chi Omega, the Honors College, Society of Women Engineers, Rotaract Club- 2019 Club Service Chair, New Greek Council, and Alpha Phi Mu. A fun fact about Olivia is that she has 8 plants in her room!
Many students and their parents worry about their student’s safety on campus, but they are not aware of the many resources available on campus. The University of Arkansas campus is incredibly safe, and as a student, I have never experienced a time when I felt like my life was in danger, even when walking back to my residence hall at two in the morning after a long night at Mullins Library. While it is unlikely students will come across a situation where they feel endangered, it is important to know what resources are available in case of an emergency.
The University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) is probably one of the most important resources to know about. What many people don’t realize is that UAPD is not the same as the Fayetteville Police Department. UAPD is your go-to for non-emergency events, like reporting something you’ve seen, and even escorting you back to your residence hall. UAPD’s number is (479)-575-2222, and the number for a Razorback Patrol Escort is (479)-575-4451, but remember, in the event of an emergency you should always call 9-1-1.
One of the best features of UArk’s safety measures is SAFE Ride. SAFE Ride will pick you up and bring you back to your residence hall in the event that you are in a situation in which you feel unsafe, but calling 9-1-1 seems unnecessary. SAFE ride operates Monday and Tuesday 10:30pm-1:00am and will pick you up anywhere on campus and return you to your residence hall. They also operate Wednesday-Saturday 10:30pm-3am and will pick you up anywhere in Fayetteville and return you to your residence hall. Their number is (479)-575-SAFE (7233) and you can learn more about how they operate at https://parking.uark.edu/transit-services/safe-ride/index.php. Remember, safe ride is not an Uber service so please use their services responsibly.
Another service offered by the University is the Mental Health Crisis hotline. In the event a student is having a mental health crisis or may hurt themselves or someone else, you should call the Mental Health Crisis hotline at (479)-575-5276.
Some other important information to know about campus safety is that there are 125 “blue lights” on campus with a button that can pushed for immediate help from UAPD if there is an emergency when walking on campus. Additionally, all these numbers are located on the back of each student ID, which students should keep on them at all times in case of an emergency or unsafe situation. It is also a good idea to be signed-up for the University’s RazALERT system, which notifies you through call and text about inclement weather on campus, class cancellations, and emergencies on campus that could affect student safety. You can sign up through UAConnect under the “Profile” button, then select the “Campus Alerts System RazALERT” tab.
While it is incredibly important to know the many safety measures the University of Arkansas provides to its students, it is also important to always be aware of your surroundings. Remember, the University of Arkansas is an incredibly safe campus and our safety measures play a big part in that. You can learn more about campus safety and report concerns at https://safety.uark.edu/.