In August 2021, the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) launched “Stay Safe, Buckeyes,” a framework to support general awareness of our safety resources and the recommendations of the Task Force on Community Safety and Well-Being. The task force shared its findings in November 2020, with recommendations bucketed in three themes: safety awareness and education; enhanced security measures; and outreach and engagement.
Our office worked with the Department of Public Safety and Office of Student Life on a coordinated, sustained communications plan to educate internal and external stakeholders on our proactive measures. These communications strategies continue each year.
Most recently, the university in autumn 2023 announced plans to significantly expand its crime interdiction program, working with the city to increase evening and nighttime off-campus Columbus police patrols during fall and spring semesters. The expanded police patrols provide additional visibility throughout the University District, and were part of a suite of extensive safety enhancements, including the hiring of more campus police officers.
All recommendations have been enacted and paid immediate dividends. Each new milestone received significant university-wide communications and positive news media coverage, from introducing the Buckeye Block Watch and installing permanent, bright new lighting in the University District to adding surveillance cameras off campus and in all of our parking garages on campus.
We also supported the expansion of the popular Lyft Ride Smart program and played a key role in creating and promoting a new Stay Safe, Buckeyes online safety class to help students and other stakeholders enhance their own safety on and off campus. This class is part of the required introduction-to-Ohio State suite of classes for new students starting this fall semester.
To further highlight its priority, safety enhancements are listed as one of OMC’s Key Issues on its public website.
