Over the last several months, our nation has struggled to cope with troubling acts of violence on K-12 and college campuses. 100 Words is a new BreakingGround series that asks faculty, staff and students across campus to explore a challenging issue that impacts us all. This inaugural post asks: “What can we, as members of the UMBC community, do to keep ourselves and others safe?”
Click on one of the photos, below, to see the full gallery of responses and add your view, in 100 words or less, as a comment.
Brandon Tilghman (Associate Director of Foundation Relations): The well-being of our communities is threatened each day; yet the warning signs are often missed until preemptive action is no longer possible. To ensure the safety of our communities, we must be unashamedly and unapologetically bold in sounding the alarm by taking a collective stand against negative, environmental influences (i.e., violence, discrimination, intimidation, etc.) that have the potential to harm others and ourselves. This requires us to shift our individualistic focus to universal action, holding our brothers and sisters accountable for their behaviors, and demonstrating our commitment to love, learn and work together for the advancement of our communities.
Jennifer Treger (Community Health and Safety Specialist): Do a Green Dot! A green dot is a single choice in one moment that makes our community safer. Violence is an unfortunate reality in our society and we are all bystanders to it in one form or another. We are all in a position to make a choice in the moment that we see something to do something. To do nothing is to say it is OK for violence to continue. To do something is to begin a culture change. Let’s work together to proactively build a culture that does not tolerate violence.
Alex Moothart ’13, American Studies: One thing members of the UMBC community can do to keep a safe campus environment is to get trained in Project Green Dot. Green Dot teaches you how to handle potentially dangerous situations and allows you to gain confidence to make a difference and not just be another bystander. You learn how to not become another victim of the bystander effect, giving you a sense of empowerment to make a difference that could possibly save a life. Remember: no one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something. The smallest and simplest actions can make the biggest difference.
Romy Hübler, PhD student in Language, Literacy and Culture (GSA Community Liaison, Office of Graduate Student Life): Thinking of safety conjures images of police officers and alarm systems. These externalities put my well-being in the hands of others, which evokes the question: How can I promote safety and well-being? UMBC’s Magic of Conflict workshop provides one answer. Instead of blaming others for conflict and tension, it encourages me to become conscious of my own stories and to manage my reactions. I am learning to take responsibility, to listen, to curb my assumptions and to identify commonalities. Because force follows force blindly, we should choose to start changing our approach to conflict to permit peace to enter that equation.
Paul Dillon (Deputy Chief of Police): Safety and security is EVERYONE’S responsibility. ALWAYS lock your doors. Do not leave valuable property unattended. Do not leave valuable items, evidence of valuable items in plain view in your vehicles. Utilize campus resources, such as the Escort Program, the Shuttle Bus, Blue Light Phones. Travel to destinations on campus, particularly at night, with a friend. Listen to your inner voice when it comes to personal safety. Sign up for e2Campus Text Alerts by visiting the my.umbc.edu webpage. When you see things on campus that raise your suspicion, call the police.
The conference made me realize that a lot of the things I currently do at work and with my staff relate to civic skills and citizenship—we just don’t frame it that way. I returned from the conference with the preoccupation that in order to help my staff develop, not only professionally but also personally, it is important for us to give them a broader sense of how the services we provide and the collaborative work we do contribute to our community and development as citizens. —Abdias Irizarry, Assistant Director of Operations, The Commons
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