UIW Hosts Campus Celebration in Recognition of National Night Out 2024

National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The campaign and is observed nationally on the first Tuesday of October as neighborhoods across the country host various festivities to help provide opportunities for communities to meet local emergency personnel, observe safety demonstrations build community connections and camaraderie and more.

At UIW, the evening was no less festive. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community gathered in the Friendship Garden where they enjoyed food, games and prize opportunities. Attendees were also welcomed to take advantage of beneficial health and safety activities such as receiving the flu vaccination, participating in fire safety demonstrations and more. Community partners that joined UIW at NNO included San Antonio Police Department, San Antonio Crime Stoppers, Peace Corps and the Texas Army National Guard.

"The Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability hosts National Night Out on the UIW campus each year as a way to gather students, staff and faculty for fun and fellowship as our community engages in healthy conversations with UIWPD, as well as other organizations and UIW departments that provide information on healthy and safe lifestyles," explained Janine Chavez, director of Student Advocacy and Accountability. "Multiple UIW departments put on this event for the community in an effort to engage with each other positively and encourage students to reach out for assistance in any situation."

Since UIW's first participation in National Night Out in 2014, the institution's celebration has been regularly awarded first place by the San Antonio Police Department for the "best university and college level National Night Out celebration". Last year, UIW was also one of only four universities and colleges across the country that earned recognition from the National Night Out organization for hosting one of the best collegiate NNO events.

John Catts, interim UIWPD Chief of Police, shared that his favorite part about National Night Out is having the opportunity to interact with community members to demonstrate that UIWPD is there for them. Each year, he enjoys watching students become more comfortable coming to them for help,after having the chance to mingle and converse at NNO.

"This year UIWPD provided information on alcohol awareness and the dangers of driving while intoxicated (DWI)," shared Catts. "We also had information on domestic violence and stalking. There was an interactive game that tested the community members' knowledge on what they know about stalking and what to look out for. San Antonio Crime Stoppers was also with us to roll out the Campus Crime Stoppers partnership we now have with them. There is a Crime Stoppers app in Cardinal Apps for the community should they need to report a crime or a mental health concern on campus."

As the evening came to a close, the sense of community spirit was palpable. National Night Out at UIW not only provided an opportunity for fun and connection but also reinforced the importance of safety and awareness within the campus community. The partnerships formed between students, faculty, staff, and local law enforcement fostered a supportive environment where everyone felt empowered to seek assistance and engage in meaningful conversations about safety and well-being. Looking ahead, UIW's ongoing participation in National Night Out promises to build upon this success, ensuring that safety, camaraderie, and community remain at the forefront of campus life.