VCU news

By Mike Porter

President Michael Rao takes seriously the responsibility of keeping VCU’s campuses safe.

To that end, he has deployed several new strategies to enhance campus safety and security, including the development of the Presidential Committee on Safety and Student Wellness. The committee focuses on the communication of safety and security information and building awareness for programs already provided by the VCU Police Department, the VCU Wellness Resource Center and VCU’s Senior Emergency Preparedness Planner.

“Virginia Commonwealth University’s success as a premier urban, public research university depends on a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors,” Rao said. “The efforts of these three university units are inherently linked in promoting a safer and more secure campus, but really, safety is everyone’s responsibility.”

With guidance from the committee and input from students, University Relations staff created a safety communications campaign called RamSmart.

The campaign features a website that provides a single location where students can access all of VCU’s safety and security resources.

“Ram Smart is one-stop shopping for students for all information relating to safety, wellness and emergency preparedness,” said VCU Police Chief John Venuti. “I encourage and challenge every student to look at all of the resources and information with the goal of learning one thing you may not have been aware of.”

The first phase of the campaign encourages students to “Be A Ram,” by linking safety information and statistics with witty sayings about other animals. For example, one message calls on students, “Don’t be a lone wolf. Be a ram,” and informs them that one in four women report being sexually assaulted. The takeaway message encourages students to go to parties with a group and stay with their friends.

“It’s important that we all work together to educate each other about health and safety,” said Linda Hancock, Ph.D., director of the Wellness Resource Center. “We’re a caring community that looks out for each other.”

Another campaign message urges students “Don’t be a deer caught in the headlights. Be a ram,” promoting preparedness by reminding students that in 2011 Virginia had the second largest number of tornadoes in its history and calling on the campus community to take warnings seriously.

“On a college campus, safety and preparedness are intertwined,” said Adam Crowe, senior emergency preparedness planner for VCU. “And this campaign will help our community be prepared on a day-to-day basis, whether you are looking to reduce your chances of being the victim of a crime or want to be prepared before a hurricane. The synergy created through RamSmart is a no-brainer.”

The campaign’s message has been reinforced through tabletop promotions in dining areas, posters hung in common spaces around campus and advertising on campus connector buses.

Police also will hand out “RamSmart” badges during their participation in the Student Organization and Volunteer Opportunities (SOVO) Fair on Aug. 23 and at other safety sessions as the school year begins.

In addition, the campaign includes a video in which current students offer safety advice and tips to new students. The video has been shown to hundreds of incoming students and their families during orientation sessions and has received positive feedback.  

As one of the video’s participants explained, “you can avoid a lot of trouble just by being smart, really thinking about your choices.”

That’s what being RamSmart is all about.

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