Dear Students, 

This past fall, Bates was confronted with a number of troubling incidents related to college safety and security. Bates was not alone. Colleges and universities across the country experienced incidents related to safety, including unwelcome encounters in outdoor spaces, assaults, thefts, and unauthorized entry into buildings.

As outlined in a message from President Spencer in October, the College has since undertaken an extensive review of safety protocol that included consultation with security experts, a review of facilities and grounds by college staff, and discussions with the campus community. Meetings included two campus-wide forums and discussions with the Bates College Student Government (BCSG) Assembly, the BCSG Executive Board, Bobcat First Ambassadors, the Campus Safety Advisory Council, Junior Advisors and Residence Coordinators, OIE Peer Educators, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Bates Outing Club Leadership Team, and the Student Affairs Committee.

These meetings provided students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to discuss with each other their own experiences and perceptions of safety on campus. Conversations among participants highlighted differences in what makes someone feel safe and demonstrated that a sense of safety is not the same for everyone. At the same time, meeting participants agreed on a number of ideas for improvements, many of which aligned with recommendations from the consultants. These included:

• Enhanced lighting 
• Additional cameras at entrances and exits to residential buildings
• Improvements to ID scan technology at building entrances
• Provide more information about blue light phones 
• Increased staff presence
• Opportunities to engage with Campus Safety staff

Bates is known for its welcoming campus environment, where students and employees move freely to engage in academic pursuits and be in community with one another. Guests and members of the public are invited to enjoy our campus and attend lectures, performances, athletic contests, and other events. In moving forward, our goal is to implement new strategies that are both effective and consistent with our community values.

Enhanced Lighting

Efforts underway to improve lighting on campus include: 

• Increasing the light output within existing fixtures on the Historic Quad, reviewing the effectiveness of the stronger lighting, and continuing to evaluating the need for additional fixtures

• Partnering with the city of Lewiston to add additional street lights on Frye Street
• Increasing illumination from fixtures in the Chu Hall and Village parking lots
• Completing a survey observing locations where plantings blocked light fixtures, and removing plants and trimming branches to allow lights to project on pathways and spaces
• Studying lighting improvements to implement in the plaza framed by Chase, Ladd, and Carnegie, as well as the Franklin Walk space between Chase and Muskie, as part of the Chase project 

Additional Cameras at Entrances and Exits to Residential Buildings

In conversations, some students called for a significant increase in the number of cameras in all locations on campus, while others stressed the importance of using cameras to improve safety without creating a feeling of being monitored or watched. 

Specifically, some students requested cameras at residence halls only be placed at entrances and exits and not within hallways or other living spaces. We took these recommendations from students seriously in choosing new camera locations and in creating the Closed Circuit Television Use Policy. We will install additional cameras at residence hall entrances and exits over the summer.

Improvements to ID Scan Technology at Building Entrances

Before the end of the summer, all ID scan pads located at exterior entrances to buildings will be upgraded with technology that improves the safety and security of these devices.

More Information about Blue Light Security Phones

Many people have requested more information about blue light security phones on campus. Security phones may be used by anyone in the campus community to contact Campus Safety, including to request a safe ride or escort, report an unwelcome interaction, contact Campus Safety for support, or to report an emergency. The locations of all blue light security phones are also included on the Campus Map.

Additional Staff Presence

Students’ requests for increased staff presence indicated that presence should be focused on student safety and support while students are out and about, especially on weekends. This request was made in the fall semester and as a result, Campus Safety officers have increased their presence on campus, which has resulted in fruitful conversations and relationship-building moments with students. In addition, the Residence Life Coordinators continue to make rounds in the residences buildings with a primary focus on supporting students after hours. 

Continued Opportunities to Get to Know Campus Safety

Students requested that Campus Safety continue to hold community events as a way of fostering relationships with the staff. In response to this request, Campus Safety held: 

• An ice cream giveaway and meet-and-greet in partnership with the Bates Musician Union
• Giveaways and safety messages events at Bates vs. Tufts Football game in partnership with Bates Athletics
• A bicycle registration event 
• A winter break luncheon for international students in collaboration with Dining and Residence Life
• Cookie giveaways during finals
• A pizza giveaway 

Also, upcoming during Short Term is the second annual Bobcat-n-Brisket Smokeout.

The Importance of Community Involvement in College Safety

Safety within the Bates community requires a multilayered approach and the engagement of everyone. To that end, there are steps we all can take. These include locking office doors and residence hall rooms when we are not present, securing personal possessions, maintaining situational awareness, and not allowing others to follow behind when entering a building.

For support at any time, students, faculty, and staff can call Campus Safety at 207-786-6254. Officers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer the phone, coordinate emergency response, and connect people to the right resources. Campus Safety offers safe rides or escorts for students in any situation where they feel unsafe, and they can connect students 24/7 to Residence Life Coordinators for housing and personal needs.

We would like to thank members of our community for participating in conversation around college safety. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Paul Menice, Director of Campus Safety, at pmenice@bates.edu. We look forward to a successful and enjoyable Short Term. 

Sincerely,

Blake M. Reilly, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Operations

Paul Menice, Director of Campus Safety