Safety

Safety
Emergency phone numbers
University police officers are available 24 hours a day (1 Sproul Hall). Emergency phones are located throughout campus and are easily identified by a blue light on top of the phone box or column. You can call the police, fire department, or an ambulance by pressing the red button or dialing 911. Even if you can't say anything, dispatchers can see which Blue Light Phone you're calling from, will know where you are, and will immediately send someone there.

You can call:
911 from any landline phone
510/642-3333 from cellular phones
800/309-2131 for Suicide Prevention

In an emergency, such as fire, earthquake, or power outage, tune into KALX 90.7 FM for information and safety alerts.

People Locator
A new emergency online locator service is available for UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty. You can logon to this communications website during an emergency (like a large-scale earthquake) with your CalNet ID, and post a message that friends, family and co-workers can view (peoplelocator.berkeley.edu).

UC Police Department (UCPD)
The Berkeley campus has a dedicated, full-service police department with 75 sworn officers, 45 full-time civilian personnel, and 60 student employees. UCPD has primary law enforcement jurisdiction on the campus and associated University properties. The department is empowered as a full-service state law enforcement agency and subscribes to the standards of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Officers receive the same basic training as city and county peace officers throughout the state, plus additional training to meet the unique needs of a campus environment.

UCPD handles all patrol, investigation, crime prevention education, emergency preparedness, and related law enforcement duties for the campus community and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. UCPD coordinates closely with the City police department, operating joint patrol programs in the south campus area, and communicating at all levels to ensure the effective provision of police services (police.berkeley.edu; 1 Sproul Hall; ucpolice@berkeley.edu; 510/642-6760).

The Crime Prevention Unit offers safety and property protection programs where police officers will make a free inspection of your campus building to identify security problems or give a safety presentation at your living unit (510/643-8988).

The Jeanne Clery Act is a federal law that requires the University to disclose reported instances of criminal activities on campus. Crime statistics, as well as important safety information, are included in the UCPD publication, Safety Counts, and are available online (police.berkeley.edu) and at Sproul Hall. Safety Counts is mailed directly to all registered students annually.

The Lost and Found holds items for 90 days. Unclaimed items will be submitted to campus Property Managment and redistributed through auction (1 Sproul Hall; 510/642-4936).

Publications include:
Safety Counts, the campus safety guide; includes crime statistics
B-Safe Bulletins, on various crime prevention topics
Pocket Safety Guide, with important safety contacts

Safety concerns
Night safety
Night time personal safety tips:

If you sense danger:

A Night Safety map showing walking routes and more safety tips is available on the UCPD website (police.berkeley.edu).

The Night Safety Shuttle service is an extension of BearTransit daytime service, and provides safe nighttime transit to and from the campus for classes, study, research and meetings. Routes run from points on campus to BART, Clark Kerr Campus and all residence halls.

Night Safety Shuttles are free to all and operate from 7:30 pm to 2:52 am, except during certain holiday periods.

Routes designated as "To-Your-Door" will pick up at marked BearTransit stops, then continue at your request to drop you anywhere within service area boundaries. Service area boundaries for all night shuttle services are Hopkins/Yolo/Eunice Streets (N), Hillside/Prospect Streets (E), Ashby Street (S), and Sacramento Street (W).

Check the Parking & Transportation website for more info on routes and schedules (pt.berkeley.edu; 510/642-6760).
The Owl Service van can pick up from a campus location, including all campus housing, and drop off within service area boundaries by phone request between 3am to 6am, 365 days a year (510/642-6760).

The BearWALK Service is provided by uniformed, radio-equipped, and trained student UCPD employees called Community Service Officers (CSOs). They can walk you to and from night shuttle stops, nearby residences, public transportation, or parking facilities after dark. Hours of service are from 7:30pm to 2am (daylight-savings time) or 6pm to 2am (Pacific standard time). Program boundaries are Shattuck, Parker, Warring, Highland Place, and Cedar. This service is free and available 365 days per year (police.berkeley.edu; call 510/642-WALK).

Sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence
University Health Services
UHS offers resources to maximize your personal safety and to contribute to a campus environment that supports assault survivors and works to prevent sexual assault.

Prevention workshops (on topics including acquaintance rape), referrals to self-defense classes, and special events are available to you. For women and men who have been assaulted (and their families and friends) there is crisis counseling, advocacy, and medical care. Medical care may include pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment and medical follow-up for injuries (uhs.berkeley.edu; Tang Center; 2222 Bancroft Way).

Sexual Assault Prevention Program: 510/642-7202

Survivor Counseling, Advocacy Assistance (Social Services): 510/642-6074

Counseling Services: 510/642-9494

Urgent Medical Care: 510/642-3188

Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq)
If you or a friend experience or are seeking resources on sexual assault, rape, domestic violence or stalking, a trained staff person is available to meet individually with students, faculty, and staff. Short-term crisis intervention and general support are available. Services include: overview of available options, assistance with the administrative process and documents, and resource information on sexual assault, rape, stalking, and domestic violence. GenEq professional staff and student interns are sensitive to the needs of survivors and serve as supportive advocates through what can sometimes be an emotionally challenging process. They are able to assist all genders and sexual orientations. Call or stop by for an appointment (GenEq Center, 202 Cesar Chavez Student Center; 510/643-5727).

Hate crimes
Hate crimes, bias incidents education and reporting
At Cal support is given to all members of the campus community who experience a hate or bias-related incident. Action is taken, and those who are alleged to have violated federal and state laws or the Campus Code of Conduct are investigated (students.berkeley.edu/uga/conduct.asp).

Bias Incidents/Hate Acts Education is a program within the Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq) that addresses acts of hate and intolerance by providing educational outreach. The program also provides support services and resources for those who have been victims of, or who have witnessed, hate crimes, bias-related incidents or other forms of discrimination (202 Cesar Chavez Student Center; 510/643-0788).

Crimes can be reported to UCPD (1 Sproul Hall; 510/642-6760, non-emergency; 510/642-3333, emergency) and acts of intolerance or hate graffiti can be reported online (stophate.berkeley.edu).

Cult awareness
If you feel alone or lonely, you may be vulnerable to cults that recruit regularly on college campuses. If you have any questions about groups that may be operating as cults in the campus community, contact Campus Life and Leadership (102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).

Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP)
The Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) educates the Berkeley campus community on how to prepare for and respond to major emergencies and recover from them. OEP activities include distributing emergency preparedness information, posting information in campus buildings, orchestrating campus disaster planning, and performing fire mitigation measures in the hills behind campus.

In the event of a major disaster, information, assistance, and resources are coordinated at Emergency Assembly Areas (EAAs). Large, colorful Emergency Procedures signs are posted in every campus building, highlighting the nearest Emergency Assembly Area. Students, faculty, and staff should familiarize themselves with the location of the EAA for each building before a disaster occurs.

If you live in the residence halls, you will receive instruction on what to do in emergency situations from resident hall staff. Ongoing training is available during the year including earthquake/emergency preparedness presentations for groups of 10 or more (oep.berkeley.edu; 1 Sproul Hall; oep@berkeley.edu; 510/642-9036).

Be prepared!
As with personal safety, emergency preparedness requires forethought. Spend a few minutes reviewing these checklists that could save you time, and possibly your life, in an emergency.

Things to know:

Check the OEP website (oep.berkeley.edu) for lots of information on preparing your room for an earthquake, things to do in your residence hall, house, or apartment, supplies to keep on hand in your home and/or car, where to buy supplies, and much more.

Party safe!
Cal can be a pressure cooker academically, so a relaxing and healthy social life is important for overall balance. Your social skills, as well as the social settings available in the campus area, shape the character and quality your social life takes. PartySafe offers a website that promotes safe and healthy behaviors and reduces harm associated with high-risk drinking (partysafe.berkeley.edu).

Fake ID
If you are under 21 and caught with a fake ID, you should know that there is a $25-$1000 fine, a minimum of 24 to 32 hours community service to a maximum 6 months in county jail, and a 1-year suspension of your driver's license.

The Alerting and Warning System (AWS)
This network of sirens and communication links warn and inform the campus community of what to do in an emergency or disaster. Campus sirens are tested the first Wednesday of every month. If you hear the warning sirens during an actual emergency, take the three following steps:

1) Shelter: go inside your residence or office, a nearby building, or your car, and stay inside to avoid exposure. If driving a car, safely pull over to the side of the road, turn off the engine, and stay tuned to a local radio station like KALX 90.7FM.

2) Shut: all doors and windows. Building managers should turn off ventilation systems, if feasible.

3) Listen: access one of the following sites to obtain campus emergency information, such as disaster type, evacuation routes, shelter and aid locations, or special instructions:

Emergency Information Line: 800/705-9998
Website: emergency.berkeley.edu
Radio station: KALX 90.7 FM

What to do during an earthquake
If you're inside
When you feel an earthquake duck under a sturdy object, like a desk or a door frame, and hold on to it.

If you're not near a sturdy object, duck and protect your head and neck with your arms.

Avoid windows, filing cabinets, bookcases, and heavy objects that could shatter or fall.

Watch out for falling plaster, ceiling tiles, and light fixtures.

Stay under cover until the shaking stops, then evacuate the building.

Use stairs only; do not use elevators. If you're in a wheelchair, find someone to help carry you out.

If you're outside
Move away from trees, signs, buildings, and electrical poles and wires. Protect your head and neck with your arms from falling bricks, glass, plaster, and other debris.

Seismic activity on the web
Check the last 24 hours of earth shaking activity at nine UC stations over a distance from Eureka to Parkfield: ncedc.org/bdsn/quicklook.html.

Map of recent California earthquakes: ncedc.org/recenteqs/latest.htm

Campus earthquake report hotline: 510/642-2160