Chadron State College and Chadron Public Schools have officially finished their first week of the 2024-25 school year. As students have begun to settle into their dorms and classes, lots of people have made new friends and gotten a chance to explore the community.
However, college also means being far from home, and in many cases, young adults being on their own for the first time in their life, so this is also an important time to consider safety on and off campus so everyone can have a great year. I got a chance to speak with Morgan Cullan, Title IX Coordinator up at CSC. Cullan gave some important reminders about being safe.
- Never walk alone at night
- Know your emergency contacts.
- Don’t be afraid to say “no” when faced with an uncomfortable situation
- Trust your instincts
Cullan also emphasized that safety also includes being smart with our technology and social media. Cullan recommends not having your location shared with anybody besides family and your closest friends.
Title IX is a service at CSC that works to ensure equality among students and faculty. Cullan’s Title IX office can be reached by calling 308-432-7020 or by emailing her at titleixcoordinator@csc.edu.
Alongside Title IX, another great resource for safety this year is Chadron State College Campus Security. Security Supervisor Mark Hunt says he alongside 13 officers are available and at work around the clock to keep campus secure and students, faculty and visitors safe. They work closely with local law enforcement as well as Fire and EMS agencies to provide the best possible outcome in the event of an emergency.
As far as security is concerned, Hunt says we live in a relatively safe community, but always take an extra step of caution. Things such as locking your cars and dorm rooms and knowing where all your exits are can make all the difference. Hunt states that all housing and security personnel have training in using their AEDs and the newly available dosage of Narcan in an emergency situation. Faculty and freshmen are also given training in the commonplace protocol in the event of an intruder. The security office can be reached 24 hours a day at 308-432-6037.
Both Hunt and Cullan also recommend knowing about and using the Campus Security Escort Service. This is a service that provides added protection for anybody who feels they may be in some sort of danger. While they will not leave campus, they can take you where you need to be on campus safely, or can also watch from a distance as you get there yourself if that would be your preference. You can request an escort by calling 308-360-1887.