Prevention, preparedness key in keeping GSU’s campus safe
Welcome to a new semester and a brand-new year! As new and returning Jaguars arrive on campus ready for a new academic year, the Governors State University (GSU) Emergency Response Team (ERT) say both prevention and preparedness are key to maintaining a safe campus.
GSU takes pride in being one of the safest public campuses in Illinois since 2015, and the start of a new semester is the perfect time to review the following important guidelines for keeping the GSU campus safe:
Stay Connected. First and most important, stay well informed by updating your contact information. The university needs to be able to reach you in the case of an emergency. If there is a threat of severe weather, fire, threats of violence against the campus, emergency closures, just to name a few, being able to receive emergency communications from the University will be critical to keeping you informed and maintaining your safety.
Prepare for the Potential of Emergencies. As you move around campus this semester, take note of the location of the exits closest to you and the location of fire extinguishers and fire alarms.
Calling for assistance. Across the campus you’ll find emergency phones – either red or yellow – that automatically call the campus police department 24 hours a day. Just pick up the receiver. In the case of an emergency, you can also call 9-1-1.
Report Concerns and Threats. The Student Concerns Program is designed to ensure timely outreach to students that/who are believed to be in distress or acting in a manner of concern and connect them to resources best suited to address the conveyed concern.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to report behaviors or concerns of any GSU student by using the Student Concerns Program online form to identify students and describe their area(s) of concern. Visit the Student Concerns Program website for more information about the program.
Engage the Campus Threat Assessment Team. GSU has decided to take a hands-on, holistic approach to ensure that tools are in place to reduce risks related to campus violence through the Campus Threat Assessment Team.
To help in efforts to ensure the safety of the campus community, please report all concerning behaviors that are potentially threatening, harmful to self or others, or disruptive to the university's mission.
Learn Active Shooter Protocols. Active shooter incidents on college campuses are rare, but recent campus shootings demonstrate that faculty, staff, and students should be prepared for any type of emergency. If you witness any armed individual or shooter on campus at any time, immediately call 9-1-1. The three-minute video, *Active Shooter Response, which provides further information on active shooter protocols, is also available for your review on the ERT page. 
As the icy frigid days of January slowly melt into the bright days of early spring, the GSU community remains fervent in our hope that you remain healthy, well, and safe this school year and beyond.
For more information, please visit GSU’s Emergency Management and ‘Take Action’ webpages.
And remember, each member of the Jaguar family plays a part in keeping our campus safe.
*video contains graphic content..