Ohio State University: Ohio State News Alert: University supports expanded safety resources
The Ohio State University continues to encourage students, faculty and staff to take advantage of an array of safety learning opportunities.
In a new update to the university community, President Kristina M. Johnson said safety is a community issue that requires a holistic approach. One tool in that approach is the relaunched Community Police Academy. The program was paused last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The academy is run by the Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) and is a four-week program designed to give community members a better idea of what it’s like to protect and serve on campus. It also offers university police valuable opportunities to learn first-hand about subjects and issues that matter to students, faculty and staff.
The program launched this week and runs each Wednesday through Nov. 10. There are a few spaces left and community members interested in joining the program can still sign up. It’s free and open to students, faculty and staff.
OSUPD relaunched the popular Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program. These three-hour self-defense classes are led by officers who are certified RAD instructors. The comprehensive, women-only course begins with awareness education, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, and progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training.
Current RAD classes are booked – however, many of the techniques are demonstrated in the university’s Safety Spotlight Series. Half of the videos detail the self-defense tips taught in RAD, and the Stay Safe, Buckeyes safety class also has a section focused on self-defense lessons.
This weekend, students are urged to respect their neighbors and neighborhood. Those who attend or host a party are asked to keep their events under control, make sure it doesn’t get too loud and clean up their property when finished. If safety becomes an issue, people can ask police for help. The university is reminding the community that property destruction is dangerous and illegal and will not be tolerated.