Mass Notification Test Scheduled

On Thursday October 2nd at 12:05 pm we are going to test the College's emergency notification system. This system will allow us to contact all Mount Holyoke community members by text message, cell phone or email in the event of a critical incident on campus.

For more information about the Mount Holyoke emergency notification system, see http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dps/emernotif.shtml. We will only use this system for serious campus emergencies in which the safety and wellbeing of community members may be in jeopardy.

We currently have an email address on record for every member of the community. However, we believe that emergency notification will be more timely and effective if we can send automated alerts either by text message or cell phone call, rather than relying solely on email. Therefore, we encourage all community members ensure that their personal contact information on file with the College is up to date. Students may do so via ISIS by logging in at https://isis.mtholyoke.edu and selecting "Student Profile" from the ISIS for Students menu. Members of the faculty and staff should contact Human Resources.

Please update your information by Wednesday September 24th.

SGA Ride Van

Starting on Thursday 9/18, the new SGA Safe Ride Van will start for the academic year.

At this time, the shuttle will run only Thursdays-Saturdays from 10pm-2:30am. This excludes college break and extremely inclement weather.

If you are interested in become a driver, please contact the Fleet Office or Public Safety. If we can recruit more drivers, we will be able to run the service more during the week.

The shuttle will be on a loop system on campus. The van will arrive at its assigned stop every 30 minutes. The stops are:

1. 1837/Mandelle Lot, waiting area at the lamp post near the blue light phone
2. Chapin Rd (for the Rockies & Mary Woolley Hall), waiting area at the PVTA bus stop
3. Gateway Rd (for Brigham & the Library), waiting area at the speed limit sign on right
4. Gateway Rd (for Psych & Ed Building), waiting area at the lamp post
5. Dunlap Place (for the Betty Shabazz Center), waiting area at the blue light phone
6. Equestrian Center Drive (for the Equ Ctr/Lot), waiting area at the blue light phone
7. Park St/Ham/McG Drive (for Ham/McGregor), waiting area at the lamp post on left
8. Lower Lake Rd (for the Art Museum area), waiting area at the PVTA bus stop
9. Lower Lake Rd (for the rear of Blanchard), waiting area at the blue light phone
10. Blanchard Circle (for Mead & Wilder), waiting area at the lamp post on the right
11. Faculty Lane (for Dickinson Hall), waiting area at the blue light phone
12. Gorse Lot Front, waiting area at the blue light phone
13. Gorse Lot Rear, waiting area at the blue light phone
14. *Fleet Parking lot, waiting area at the blue light phone

*The SGA Ride Van does not usually go into the Fleet Vehicle parking lot. However, drivers who are returning fleet vehicles between 10pm-2:30am, can be picked up in this lot by calling Public Safety dispatch, who will radio the van driver to go into this lot on the next circuit.

The Safe Ride Van is for safety purposed for MHC students traveling alone & has limited capacity. If you are going to your final destination in a group, please do not ask for a ride.

Public Safety on the Green

Officer Cournoyer, Officer Smith and the departments Outreach Coordinator Elizabeth, were hosting a table on the green last week to promote all that Public Safety does on campus.

Keep an eye out for other events! If you're lucky, you may obtain a FREE lockout card!

Safety Alert

This afternoon a student reported being assaulted last night (Saturday) at about 11:45 pm outside of Blanchard near the patio door facing the bus stop. The male approached her and asked her to take him to her room. When she declined, he grabbed her arm and attempted to pull her away. The student was able to break away and was then struck by the male’s hand. Two other students came out of the Blanchard door and the male ran off towards Lower Lake Road.

The description of the suspect reported by the student is an African American Male, 20 to 25 year old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, slender, 140- 160 lbs, with a mole on his right hand by the ring finger. When he was last seen he was wearing a red and white polo shirt and baggy jeans. We will post a composite picture of the suspect tomorrow on the Public Safety web site. Updates will be posted to our web site if we develop any new information.

Public Safety is asking for assistance from the community to identify this individual. Anyone who was in the area of Blanchard last night or has information about this crime should contact Public Safety at 538-2304. Officers are on duty 24 hours a day to respond to community concerns. If you need support call Counseling Services at 538-2037. Working together we can keep the community safe. This Public Safety alert is provided in compliance with the Clery Law.

Car Break-Ins

Recently, there have been vehicles broken into in campus parking lots and items left in the vehicles were stolen, specifically GPS devices.

Thieves are generally looking for items easy to grab that they can see through a car window. Please do not leave any items of value or potential value in the passenger area of your vehicle, especially music devices, GPS units, money, and other easy-to-remove items. If such items must be left in your car, lock them in the trunk where they are less likely to be seen.

When parking your car, call Public Safety at x1-911 or utilize an emergency phone if you see anyone suspicious. Suspicious behavior includes someone 'hanging out' in the lot, someone sitting in a car for a length of time, someone looking into vehicles, or someone you just feel seems out of place.

Public Safety has increased patrols of campus parking lots and is checking with area police departments to see if other campuses and town departments have had any similar incidents and to share information.

Officers are on duty twenty-four (24) hours a day to respond to incidents and to give assistance. Crime prevention is everyone's responsibility. Working together we can keep the campus safe.

Please visit the Public Safety website at www.mtholyoke.edu/go/safety for more crime prevention tips.

Police Academy Graduation

Over the summer, Public Safety had two Officers complete the Massachusetts State Police Academy. When you see Officer Smith and Officer Ryan, please give them a nice welcome back and a hearty congratulations.

Officer Smith was happy to share her photos from graduation. If you were ever interested in seeing what a graduation would be like from the police academy, here is a small glance.

Color guard and cadets all lined up in formation

Officer Smith receiving her congrats from Chief Ominsky

All the cadets in formation

Officer Smith and Chief Ominsky after the ceremony

Chief Ominsky, Officer Smith, Officer Ryan and Associate Director Arrighi after the ceremony

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to all of those who are returning to campus! Also, Welcome to Mount Holyoke College to those who will be here for the first time this academic year!

We are all excited to have a new academic year upon us. Please take the time to review all of Public Safety's safety tips, view the upcoming list of events and everything else you may want to check out on the blog or the website.

Again, we are excited to have everyone on campus and good luck to everyone!