As we navigate our campus daily, many may not be continuously aware of what is happening around them.
Recent local events, however, have fostered a larger concern for safety, especially on college campuses. As we continue to further our studies and friendships, our very own Chief of Police, James Andrews, exclaims he is working hard to “make sure we are doing everything we can do to provide our students with a safe environment and productive learning environment.”
Although small, Piedmont sits in the heart of Demorest as an open campus with multiple entry and exit points. This creates a unique challenge when facing the safety of our campus.
Chief reminds us to stay alert and aware in this environment:
“Piedmont University is a beautiful campus that welcomes everyone to enjoy all that we have to offer. I am sure you have all noticed that we have a lot of walkers and runners that enjoy our campus. However, lately, we have also attracted visitors that are not here to enjoy our friendly atmosphere. Please be aware of anyone that is walking through parking lots looking in vehicles. At Piedmont, we are very blessed to have a community that looks out for each other; however, this sometimes leads to false sense of security. I would remind all of the Piedmont family to not let your guard down, remember to always lock your rooms and vehicles and never prop open the entrance/exit doors to your residence halls.”
The safety of us students does not only apply to Piedmont’s campus but extends to the places we collectively frequent. Chief Andrews urges us to be safe as many travel to other cities or campuses for weekend fun.
“Over the last year or so, it has been reported that several Piedmont University Students have been attacked and robbed in the Athens area,” he warns. “I know a lot of students go to other locations to hang out with friends from other schools, however, most do not come up with a safety plan before doing so. If you plan to consume alcohol while on campus or off, never drink so much that you cannot defend yourself or execute a retreat. I would never recommend going off campus to meet a new acquaintance, especially those that are made on the internet as you have no idea who this person actually is.”
Being our Chief of Police, Jim Andrews is doing what he can to ensure our safety. That being said, there are a few tips we could all learn.
“When walking with one other person you reduce your chances of becoming a victim by 63%. When walking with more than one other person, you reduce your chances of becoming a victim by more than 90%. In other words, never walk or jog alone. Avoid poorly lit streets, alleys, vacant lots, and parking lots. Attackers look for a passive victim, so walk with a steady pace and appear purposeful. Trust your instinct. If something does not feel right to you, it probably isn’t.” In pleading with us to be more aware, he also pokes fun: “I know this will be a hard one for some of you, but simply put those phones down or in your pocket so you can be more in tune with your surroundings.” Andrews explains.
“It is my recommendation to always contact Campus Police before contacting The Demorest Police Department,” Andrews stated, “If for any reason you are involved in a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately and then contact Campus Police.”
“Please make sure you sign up to receive emergency alerts from the university if you have not done so already. These alerts will give you quick warnings of situations like tornado warnings and active shooter threats.” Andrews urges.
If you ever feel unsafe or unsure, in the words of Chief Jim Andrews, “see something, say something.” Piedmont’s Police Department operates every hour of the day, every day of the year. Their 24-hour accessible number is 706-939-1349.
