Bend Students Urge Expanded Protocols After Week of Campus Incidents
Student leaders told the OSU Board of Trustees that safety staff now patrol round the clock following two assaults and a nearby school shooting.
By Luana Foster ·
Safety patrols at Oregon State University's Cascades campus in Bend now operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Student leaders announced the change in response to two reported sexual assaults in campus housing and a shooting at a nearby elementary school.
The assaults were reported to have occurred on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 in the university's only residential hall. University officials stated in a letter to students that the victim did not know the assailant. The incidents remain under investigation.
Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, presented the concerns to the OSU Board of Trustees at its Friday meeting. "These three distinct events happened within seven days of each other and have students concerned for their physical, sexual and emotional safety," he said.
Woekel said student leaders are urging campus partners to re-examine and expand emergency protocols. This includes updating procedures for an active shooter and ensuring students are aware of sexual violence prevention resources. The push for stronger measures comes as national attention focuses on campus sexual violence, including five incidents reported at the University of Oregon's Eugene campus during the first week of classes.
The university closed on Friday after the shooting and reopened for classes at the start of this week. Silver Rail Elementary School, located a few miles away, remains closed indefinitely. Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center have opened confidential drop-in sessions for students, whether directly impacted or not.
Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard sent messages to students following the incidents. "Creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility," she wrote. "We are a close-knit campus, and I encourage you to look out for and support one another." Board of Trustees Chair Karla Chambers responded to Woekel, stating that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800-656-4673. Confidential crisis counseling is available around the clock at 1-800-985-5990, with Spanish-language support available by pressing 2.
Source: OPB
