Lobos: United for Safety

Today, University Communication and Marketing begins a new series titled Lobos: United for Safety. The series will run weekly over the course of the next two months. The goal of the series is to educate the UNM community about current and ongoing campus safety initiatives, crime-related issues and concerns, and ways to protect yourself and your property, as well as the utilization of various campus resources in an effort to enhance campus safety for all.

If you have any comments or story suggestions for the series, please email [email protected].

On a busy day along Albuquerque's Central Avenue-the city's storied but troubled corridor that runs directly alongside The University of New Mexico-students stream between classes, buses, restaurants and dorms.

The energy of an urban campus is what makes UNM vibrant and connected to its community. But that same location also brings challenges that weigh heavily on university leaders, students, and families.

Last month, those challenges became heartbreakingly real. A deadly shooting in a UNM residence hall left one individual deceased and another injured, shaking the Lobo community and underscoring the fact that no university, urban or rural, is immune to violence. It's a reality campuses across the nation face, and UNM is no exception.

Campus safety in an urban environment is a constantly moving target. UNM is located in the heart of Albuquerque, next to one of the busiest-and sometimes most dangerous-streets in the city. That means the University has to be both realistic about risks and innovative in its response.

Balancing Openness and Safety

College campuses are designed to be open and welcoming, places where students, faculty, and the public can come together to learn, conduct research, enjoy performances, and cheer on athletic teams. But openness can conflict with safety. With thousands of people moving across dozens of buildings every day, even the best-equipped campus police departments face difficult challenges.

The safety and security of every member of the campus community are of prime concern at The University of New Mexico and the UNM Police Department (UNMPD). While the UNMPD works hard to ensure the campus is a safe place to live, learn, work and play, UNM is not exempt from crime.

"UNMPD does their part to prevent crimes, but to be safe and secure, every member of the campus community must take common sense precautions, be alert and look out for others. Maintaining an effective police department is a community effort, and together we can ensure UNM remains safe," said Byron Piatt, director of Crisis Management and Preparedness Department.

At UNM, safety efforts include the visible-like blue light phones, uniformed police patrols, and key-card building access-as well as the unseen, such as expanded video surveillance and license plate readers.

With the beginning of the fall semester now underway, UNM's Emergency Management team would like to remind the entire campus community of its emergency response preparedness, its capabilities and procedures.

LoboAlerts
To keep the campus informed UNM uses several mediums to notify the campus in the event of an emergency. LoboAlerts is the University's emergency text messaging system. Without a doubt, LoboAlerts is the quickest method University officials use to reach the most people, and a tool that the campus community should all be using. Aside from inclement weather, UNM PD will send out most LoboAlerts whenever the need arises.

"While it is the primary system utilized by the University, LoboAlerts is just one piece of the multi-faceted, campus notification system used to provide safety and inclement weather alerts, and notification of events which have the potential to threaten the University's ability to conduct regular activities," said Piatt. "The system also includes a warning siren, email alerts, campus safety website and social media updates."

How LoboAlerts works
LoboAlerts is the campuswide text messaging and email system for all faculty, staff and registered students, UNM affiliates and all UNMH employees. On average, text messages are delivered 10 times faster than the e-mail messages. However, the timeliness of text message receipt can vary based upon type of phone, carrier, location, and battery strength. The timing of text messages also depends on when an incident is reported, so if you see something, say something immediately. Don't wait for someone else to do so. Time is of the essence.

Each of these groups is automatically enrolled when individuals become part of the UNM community. Initially, user information is fed into the system through Banner. Thereafter, system users maintain their user information, which includes an active cell phone number for text messages and/or an email address for email notifications. Users may opt out of one, but not both mediums. Each semester, all users should review their contact information, update it if necessary, and add additional contact information as needed.

If you see something, say something!

The LoboAlerts system can store and contact up to three cell phones and three e-mail addresses per user. Piatt suggests that individuals also add the numbers 26787 and 67283 to their address books as LoboAlerts. The numbers are the common short codes used by the system to send messages.

"It is helpful to see a text message coming from "LoboAlerts" rather than some unknown number," Piatt added.

At the same time text and e-mail messages are being delivered, alerts will appear on campus websites at the top of each page and also social media sites, including LoboAlerts Facebook and LoboAlerts X (Twitter) pages.

In addition, UNM also utilizes a community alert system available to those interested within the community. Non-UNM persons who work on campus, nearby businesses and neighborhoods, and parents of students who live in nearby communities, or otherwise those who have an interest in receiving emergency notifications, can also receive LoboAlerts by creating their own account on the LoboAlerts Community site. The same messages that go out via the main LoboAlerts account also go to the LoboAlerts community site warning interested individuals of a situation involving an emergency or weather-related alert.

The University emergency notification system is tested at the beginning of each semester, and individuals are expected to share the information with those nearby in case they didn't receive it, and to follow the instructions provided. The next test of the LoboAlerts system is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 11:02 a.m.

For more information, visit LoboAlerts Emergency Messaging.

LoboGuardian
LoboGuardian is a joint effort between the Office of the President, the Dean of Students, Campus Safety, the UNM Police Department, and Information Technologies. Implemented in 2015 to increase campus safety among the UNM community, LoboGuardian is a mobile app that UNM offers to increase user safety by creating a virtual safety network of friends and family.

With the LoboGuardian app, you can set a safety timer and status, have easy access to emergency communication, and report crime tips to the UNM Police Department. It's a virtual blue light telephone at your fingertips. An FAQ page is also available to answer specific questions.

For more information, visit LoboGuardian.

Blue Light Phones
While the LoboGuardian App is highly recommended to the campus community, UNM has dozens of emergency beacons and blue light phones located throughout UNM's main and north campuses. These "blue light" phones are easily identifiable, light up at night and connect users directly with UNM Police Dispatch. You may use the emergency telephone by opening the telephone box and pressing the button. The police dispatcher will answer the telephone promptly, and you will be able to relate the nature of your emergency. It is important to know your location when utilizing blue light phones.

Campus Safety Website
UNM is committed to offering services, information, resources and tools to offer a safe campus to all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. As part of the everyday effort to keep the campus community safe, UNM has a comprehensive website that offers a wide array of campus safety information, education and preparation, programs including campus safety, crime prevention and campus safety week, campus resources including community, advocacy, health and counseling, and other campus resources such as personal safety tips.

A Community Effort
Despite the technology and training in place, UNM officials emphasize that real safety depends on community involvement. Students are encouraged to use the LoboGuardian app, which allows them to set "safety timers" when walking alone or connect directly with UNMPD. Faculty and staff receive regular reminders to stay alert, update their emergency contact information, and review campus preparedness resources.

"UNMPD works tirelessly to prevent crime," Piatt said, "but we also need every Lobo to take responsibility-by reporting suspicious behavior, watching out for friends and colleagues, and using the tools we've put in place. Safety is truly a shared effort."

Staying Informed When It Matters Most
One of the most powerful safety tools is communication. UNM's LoboAlerts system pushes emergency notifications through text, email, social media, and campus sirens. Parents, nearby businesses, and community members can also opt in to receive alerts, ensuring that safety information extends beyond the campus boundary.

"Seconds matter in an emergency," Piatt said. "That's why LoboAlerts is so important. But it only works if everyone keeps their information up to date."

Looking Ahead
The start of a new semester always brings anticipation-new classes, new friendships, new goals. But this year, it also brings renewed determination. The University is investing more in safety infrastructure, expanding mental health services, and fostering a culture where speaking up is encouraged.

As UNM launches a series of stories on campus safety this semester, one message will remain clear: creating a safe environment is everyone's responsibility. Together-students, faculty, staff, parents, and neighbors-the Lobo community can meet the challenges of an urban campus while preserving the openness that makes UNM a place of possibility.

Lastly, if you see something, say something, and call UNMPD immediately at 505.277.2241.