The University of New Mexico (UNM) will observe Campus Safety Week from September 7 to 13 as part of National Campus Safety Awareness Month. The annual event is held each September, following a 2008 Congressional declaration that encourages public discussion on violence prevention at colleges and universities.
Throughout the week, UNM will offer workshops and activities aimed at raising awareness and providing education on safety topics relevant to students, faculty, staff, and the wider campus community.
Central Campus Safety Day is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cornell Mall outside the Student Union Building. Planned activities include “Coffee with a Cop,” which gives attendees an opportunity to meet officers from the UNM Police Department. Other events include boba tea service, therapy dog visits, complimentary chair massages provided by local therapists, and informational booths featuring fire extinguisher training, office ergonomics demonstrations, environmental health updates, bicycle registration services, AGORA Crisis Center information, CASAA resources for substance abuse support, Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), employee wellness programs, ombuds services, recreational offerings, and the Women’s Resource Center.
An Annual Safety Walk will take place on Central Campus later that day from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., beginning in the SUB Atrium. The walk is designed for participants to help identify areas on campus that may need better lighting or maintenance for increased safety. Refreshments and music will be available before the walk begins.
North Campus Safety Day will occur on Wednesday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering similar activities as those found during Central Campus Safety Day but without therapy dogs present. A corresponding North Campus Annual Safety Walk is also planned for that evening starting at 6:30 p.m., with a safety briefing and flashlight distribution prior to the walk.
On Saturday, September 13 at University Stadium’s west lot (1111 University Blvd., SE), South Campus Safety Day will feature free vehicle identification number (VIN) etching from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.—a process intended to deter auto theft by making it more difficult for thieves to profit from stolen vehicles or their parts—and a barbecue fundraiser hosted by UNMPD between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
For further details about all events taking place during the weeklong initiative at UNM or about National Campus Safety Awareness Month nationally—which seeks broader public engagement around campus safety issues—visit the official pages for Campus Safety Week or National Campus Safety Awareness Month.
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