VCU news

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department will hold a variety of activities to promote safety awareness and crime prevention during September, which is National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

“The timing of National Campus Safety Awareness Month coincides with the start of the school year,” said VCU Police Chief John Venuti. “So this provides us with a great opportunity for police to work with new and returning students, faculty and staff to raise their awareness of crime prevention and safety.”

One of the most visible activities throughout the month is what police call “The Blue Light Special,” in which several police vehicles are parked with their emergency blue lights flashing while officers pass out crime prevention and safety information.

“The Blue Light Special is there to catch the students’ attention and provide them with a lot of information that could greatly reduce their chances of becoming victims of crime,” Venuti said.

Police also will run several sessions of “Operation PCID,” allowing members of the campus community to register their personal computers for easier recovery if the computer is lost or stolen.

VCU Police will join representatives of the Richmond Police Department, Drive Smart Virginia and Bike Virginia to talk to pedestrians and bicyclists about safety during an event on Sept. 12 at 10:30 a.m. near the intersection of Main and Belvidere streets.

A safety fair is set for Sept. 12 at the University Student Commons.  Information about crime prevention and safety will be provided, and bicycle and laptop registration will be offered.  Students who complete a safety survey will be eligible for a prize. Radio station Q94 will broadcast from the event.
 
The complete list of activities is included below:

Sept. 9 – 15: Drive Smart Virginia’s Fourth Annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week

Sept. 10: Blue Light Special at Q Lot from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
                PCID Ackell 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sept. 11: Blue Light Special at the Egyptian Building Courtyard from noon – 12:30 p.m.,
                PCID at the Broad and Belvidere Dorms from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sept. 12: VCUPD Safety Fair, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the University Student Commons.  

Sept. 13: Blue Light Special at Cary and Linden from Noon – 12:30 p.m.
                PCID at Grace Street Student Housing South, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sept. 17: Shafer Court Dining Information Table from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
D.J. Five-O (Officer Matt Ruland) will focus his Magic Carpet Ride Radio program on robbery prevention and urban living.           

Sept. 18: Blue Light Special at A Lot from 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
                Cabell Library Information Table from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sept. 19: Snead Hall BOSS Fair from 11a.m. – 2 p.m.
                Cary Street Gym Information Table from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
    
Sept. 20:  Blue Light Special at Grace Street Student Housing South from noon – 12:30p.m.
                 Main Hospital 1st Floor Information Table from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Sept. 21:  Larrick Dining Center Information Table from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sept. 24: D.J. Five-O (Officer Matt Ruland) will focus his Magic Carpet Ride Radio program on robbery prevention and urban living.           

Sept. 26: PAC Building Orientation from noon – 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: Blue Light at Special Snead Hall from noon – 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 28: Rain date for the Safety Fair