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Take the ‘texting challenge’ for Campus Safety Month

Campus Safety Awareness Month Activities will continue on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with a “distracted walking” obstacle course.

Safety challenges

Think you’re safety savvy? Send a list of the unsafe activities found in the photo shown above to the Campus Safety Awareness Committee. Find all the unsafe activities and win a prize!

Also: Each week during National Safety Month, the Safety Office will present a short safety quiz. Participants in the quiz will be entered into a drawing for a UNMC-themed prize. To take the safety quiz, click here.

Participants will text on their phones while navigating a figure-eight course with various obstacles. They will attempt to keep to a path about two feet wide while avoiding traffic cones when sending texts that will be read aloud to them as they walk.

The rules are:

  • Participants will need to have a phone to text from.
  • Spotters will help eliminate violators.
  • Texts will be read out loud, and the participant must text and walk without hitting a cone/obstacle or another participant.
  • Participants must stay in their path, unless they are avoiding someone or an obstacle.
  • The winners will be participants with no walking violations and the least mistakes in reading or sending texts.
  • There will be four participants in each round, and prizes will be awarded to one winner each round.
  • Everyone is welcome to attempt the course.

“The ‘distracted walking’ course is a fun, safe way to emphasize the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times,” said John Hauser, campus safety manager. “People can be seriously injured because they are paying attention to their phones instead of their surroundings. This activity gives us a chance to illustrate how distracting sending a text can be.”

Tuesday’s event will be held at the ice rink on the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (The rain location is the Center for Healthy Living gym.)

This is one of a series of events for campus safety month. Other upcoming events include:

  • Title IX Awareness Week: Sept. 22 to Sept. 26. Various activities and presentations will take place concerning Title IX and its safety implications.
  • Active killer presentation: Sept. 30. A representative from the Omaha Police Department will be on campus to discuss situations in which there is an active threat on campus and safety strategies.

Safety tips

Gary Svanda, director of campus security, offers these safety tips in honor of Campus Safety Wareness Month:

Today's focus: Improving your personal safety while walking or taking public
transportation on campus or in the community at large.

While walking on city streets:

  • Try to travel in a group. There is safety in numbers, and attacks are less likely to occur if you are with other people.
  • Keep your ears open -- iPods or other devices that use headphones should not be used when walking. Criminals look for easy targets, and not only are headphones a sign you're not paying attention to your surroundings, but the devices they're attached to can also be a tempting target for thieves.
  • When confronted by someone looking to cause you harm, yell, scream and attract as much attention as possible. The unwanted attention may be enough to scare away your attacker.

When using public transportation:

  • Check your route schedule in advance.
  • Keep a copy of the transit schedule for reference should you need to leave earlier or later than usual.
  • Be aware of your surroundings walking to and from the bus stop.
  • Remember that cell phones and mp3 players can be distracting and limit your ability to hear what is going on around you, possibly preventing you from being alert to potential signs of danger.
  • Walk with purpose and a confident stride.
  • Plan to arrive at the bus stop only a few minutes before departure time.
  • Sit near the front of the bus.
  • If you are on the bus and someone bothers you, tell the driver immediately.
  • Where possible, and especially at night, coordinate your transit travel with companions you know and trust.

Campus escort

Employees and students may arrange for an on-campus security escort (e.g. to vehicle in parking lot, within buildings or to perimeter of property) by phoning security dispatch at (402) 559-5111.

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