Safe and secure

MacEwan University is a safe and positive place – and we all want to make sure it stays that way.

Whether you’re worried about losing your laptop or wondering what to do if you see suspicious activity, there are things you can do to make the university a safe and secure place for yourself, your friends and everyone else on campus.

Here are a few tips:

1. Don’t fly by the seat of your pants

Buckling your seatbelt and heading for the stairs during a fire drill are second nature, so preparing for things that will likely never happen is nothing new. In an emergency, you need to think fast – knowing in advance what you’ll do in a crisis could save your life. And if you lose your flash drive before handing in your midterm assignment, having your name and number on it could save your grade. Take the time to think about your own safety and security and make a plan.

Taking the Emergency Preparedness Orientation Course can help you learn about the kinds of things you should plan ahead for and how to respond in the unlikely event that there’s a crisis on campus.

2. Make friends with Security Services

Or at least save their phone number (780-497-5555 if it’s urgent, 780-497-5554 for information) to your contacts list. Uniformed security officers make regular patrols inside and outside university buildings 24/7 and are available to answer calls for help. You can also reach Security Services using the Emergency Blue Phones throughout campus – keep an eye out for them on your regular routes so you know where to find one if you need it. Safe at MacEwan is a great resource for accessing contact information for emergency situations, and the Safe@MacEwan app allows you to download those emergency contacts to your phone while also receiving important alerts and notices.

The Security Services office is located on the main floor of the Robbins Health Learning Centre in Room 9-112, just under the main staircase. It’s also where you can return or report lost items on campus.

3. Download the SAFE@MacEwan app

The SAFE@MacEwan app is an easy-to-use, accessible tool for keeping you safe on campus. When you download the app, you can use safety features and access safety resources on your phone. You can use the app to sign up for MacEwan Alert, part of the university’s emergency notification system that sends email and text messages to all students, faculty and staff during emergencies – anything from severe weather and building closures to safety issues on campus.

4. It’s okay to be afraid of the dark

Whether you’re parking your car or choosing a place to study, look for well-lit areas. And if you’re at all uncomfortable getting to your ride, call Safe Walk. Volunteers or MacEwan Security Services will walk you within a two-block radius of the campus – to your car, the LRT or bus stop – between 7 p.m. and 12 a.m., Monday to Thursday.

The Safe@MacEwan app also has a Friend Walk feature, which sends your live location to a friend so they can monitor your trip to your destination and trigger a call to emergency services if necessary.

5. Trust your “Spidey sense”

If you have a weird feeling that something is wrong, dangerous or suspicious, call Security Services. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Their number is already in your contacts, right? If not, see tip number two.

6. Study safe

There are lots of great places to study at MacEwan University. Use them. Stay away from isolated areas – empty classrooms or stairwells. And if you need music to get into your study zone, don’t crank the volume. Make sure you can still hear what’s going on around you.