ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico-Gallup will host a week of activities in September to observe National Campus Safety Awareness Month, aiming to enhance the safety and health of its branch campus.

Scheduled from Monday to Friday, Sept. 16-20, UNM-Gallup’s Campus Safety Week includes events designed to increase awareness and education on safety and security topics relevant to students, faculty, staff, and the larger community.

“It’s an effort to have open discussions and educate our campus community about safety procedures and protocols while also creating an opportunity or forum to voice any concerns or share any information,” said Jayme McMahon, UNM-Gallup Student Affairs director.

This marks the second annual Campus Safety Week at UNM-Gallup, organized by the Safety Week Subcommittee under the UNM-Gallup Safety Committee.

A key event is the Campus Safety Fair on Thursday, Sept. 19, featuring organizations from Gallup-McKinley County conducting outreach about their services and resources. Organizations focused on safety, health, and security are invited to register for a booth by contacting Sr. Public Relations Specialist Richard Reyes at 505-863-7542 or richardreyes12@unm.edu.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring the Gallup community together to revisit the safety concerns for UNM-Gallup specifically and to start that conversation,” said Jacob LaCroix, UNM-Gallup emergency medical services instructor.

Another highlight is the Campus Safety Walk where participants will identify safety issues around campus such as lighting improvements or pruning needs. This walk provides an opportunity for community members to engage in identifying areas for enhancement while getting some exercise after dark.

“We want our campus to be a safe, healthy space where people belong and feel like they belong,” McMahon stated. “We want our students and employees to flourish, so we need to ensure we’re providing a safe environment for them to do so.”

Other events throughout the week include a meet-and-greet with first responders from the community; training sessions on personal safety, hands-only CPR, and Narcan use in overdose situations; as well as important meetings and training opportunities for campus building coordinators.

The meet-and-greet event allows students, faculty, and staff to connect with UNM-Gallup’s Campus Police officers and other local police agencies' officers.

“We have Coffee with a Cop so people just don’t see them as a uniform,” said Sgt. Richard Perez of UNM-Gallup Campus Police. “People can actually go and talk to them and ask questions and see that all the officers are humans too. A lot of victims are afraid to report things. If they get to know the officers as people, it’s easier for them to speak up.”

To see the full agenda for Campus Safety Week activities visit [UNM-Gallup's website].