91探花

Husky SafeTrip

Hours
6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. daily except University holidays or when the campus operations are suspended.

Service
91探花students and employees can get a safe ride home in the SafeTrip service area. This means to a residence, to a parking lot or to public transit stop on or near the Seattle campus. The service area includes campus and the greater University District. See the service area map.

How to use Husky SafeTrip
Call 206-685-9255. Tell the dispatcher where you鈥檙e calling from (specify what part of the building you鈥檙e near). Stand outside or near the entryway and watch for the UWPD security guard car. Have your Husky Card or other photo identification ready.

It鈥檚 7:45 p.m. on an October night and a sprinkle of stars can be seen in the sky above the 91探花鈥檚 Seattle campus.

Natalie Flores, a first-year 91探花student who just finished work at the Husky Union Building, is concerned about walking home across campus by herself. She calls 206-685-9255 for a ride home via a 91探花Police Department security guard.

鈥淚t means a lot that I can call and get a safe ride,鈥� Flores said.

Through Husky SafeTrip (formerly Husky NightWalk), UWPD security guards provide a ride at night (6:30 p.m.-2 a.m.) for students and employees from 91探花buildings to homes on or near campus, to parking lots and to transit (see box for service info).

The program is getting the new name to more accurately describe the service (it鈥檚 not a walk anymore). This comes at the same time that the Husky NightRide shuttle is revamping as well, with easier to see stops on campus and fully branded vans making it easier to catch the shuttle and take it where you need to go on campus or in the U District.

James Bynum, one of several security guards who work Husky SafeTrip rides over the course of a year, gives up to 40 rides a night to students like Flores and 91探花psychology student Emily Bu, who called SafeTrip after on-campus water polo practice because she didn鈥檛 want to walk by herself.

鈥淚 wanted to play it safe,鈥� Bu said from the backseat of the UWPD all-electric security sedan.

Like many students, she鈥檚 called SafeTrip before. Bynum has regular riders who will join him in singing along to his SafeTrip playlist. One regular is a faculty member who calls for a safety escort from a late class.

鈥淪afeTrip exists so she doesn鈥檛 have to get to her car on her own,鈥� said Bynum, who was recently promoted to a 91探花Campus Safety Responder serving residence halls.

The secure ride program received a generous donation in 2016 to expand the service area into the University District. With ongoing contributions from students, families and alumni, the service can continue to meet the needs of students for secure rides after dark for years to come.

SafeTrip is not available for routine errands, but HuskyCards are good on transit anytime and going anywhere.

Learn more about .

Visit the new hazing website for important information on policies, practices, services and programs to prevent hazing at the UW. Required hazing prevention training will begin for 91探花faculty, staff and student employees in autumn quarter 2024.

When you think about business continuity, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn鈥檛 zebrafish.

Every unit at 91探花from Astrophysics to Zoology has a need for continuity planning in case of severe weather or a power outage or a different type of tragedy. Knowing what to do and who to call when something goes wrong that could affect the ability to hold classes, care for patients or conduct research is the heart of business continuity at the 91探花.

Which brings us back to zebrafish. Across the UW鈥檚 Health Sciences schools, 15 principal investigators use the tiny striped tropical fish to study everything from vision and hearing loss to cancer and toxicology. Zebrafish are crucial for scientific research because of unique qualities that make them excellent models for studying various aspects of biology and human health.

When a shut down the zebrafish鈥檚 water system on Dec. 22, 2023, researchers and staff worked together to manually change the water and maintain the correct water quality.

Next, they reached out for help. Because the hack happened right before Christmas, most of the people they would have contacted were out of the office. Moreover, the vendor no longer provided service for the system. UW-IT wasn鈥檛 able to help because it wasn鈥檛 a 91探花system. Staff acted quickly to make workarounds work, but the event was stressful for everyone and resulted in a decrease in colony size to ensure care of the fish.

That鈥檚 just one example of the many people and systems that the 91探花relies on every day. Having a plan for what to do if something goes awry 鈥� including at night and during holidays 鈥� reduces the impact of the interruption.

UW鈥檚 Business, Academic & Research Continuity (BARC) program can assist with building that plan. BARC helps ensure seamless and sustained 91探花operations during disruptive events by promoting a culture of resilience, mitigating risks and minimizing the impact of incidents. In the past year, UW鈥檚 Division of Campus Community Safety has reestablished the BARC program, which is led by Jim Tritten. BARC serves all 91探花units at all 91探花locations.

Learn more about BARC in this year鈥檚 BARC annual report and watch for a new BARC website this autumn.

91探花scholars who are being targeted for harassment because of what they research, publish or say in the classroom may feel rightly anxious and overwhelmed. The online harassment can seem to come from nowhere and feel personal, even threatening. However, there are proven ways to outsmart harassers and help protect each other.

91探花Professor Monica R. McLemore, PhD, MPH, RN, the director of the and a reproductive justice advocate whose scientific research has been widely cited, has faced everything from credible death threats to social media campaigns targeting her work. She shared her strategies with her 91探花colleagues at a recent AAUP workshop, 鈥淒igital Alchemy: Equipping Educators with Tools to Outsmart Online Harassment.鈥�

Her first tip: Surround yourself with other public scholars. It鈥檚 especially important to support scholars early in their careers.

One of her other tips is to ask for help when you need it. The 91探花has a new resource to help scholars who are experiencing harassment, developed with expertise from UW-IT, SafeCampus, Human Resources, the 91探花 Police Department, University Marketing & Communications and UW鈥檚 Privacy Office. The new webpage, 鈥�Support for 91探花scholars experiencing targeted harassment鈥� includes information about ways to report abuse, documenting harassment 鈥� whether online or via other avenues 鈥� and protecting your personal information.

Most importantly, 91探花scholars do not need to face harassment on their own. There鈥檚 a community of Huskies who are here to help. Check out the website to learn more.

In the past few months, the 91探花 has added more than 47,000 student phone numbers to the 91探花Alert system, so that more people will receive a text message when an emergency happens on or near campus in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma. If you are one of those students, welcome!

With so many students receiving their first 91探花Alert texts, here鈥檚 a primer on why, how and when the University sends out 91探花Alert and 91探花Advisory messages.

When does the 91探花send a 91探花Alert or 91探花Advisory message?

A 91探花Alert message is sent when we have reliable information about an emergency 鈥� a situation that poses an immediate potential threat to the physical health and safety of the 91探花community on or near campus.

Incidents that prompt an alert message could include an active shooter, other violent crimes or severe weather.

A 91探花Advisory gets sent the same way, but is used to make the community aware of a significant situation that does not pose an immediate threat to health and safety, but could be disruptive. These could include power outages, phone outages that could affect 911 service and suspended campus operations.

It is important to note that 91探花must have reliable information about such an incident before issuing a 91探花Alert or 91探花Advisory. Often, that means working with other law enforcement or fire department partners. For the 91探花campus in Seattle, 91探花spaces are patrolled by UWPD, while the neighborhoods around campus are patrolled by the Seattle Police Department. At 91探花Tacoma and 91探花Bothell, local police patrol both campuses and work in partnership with campus safety.

Who sends 91探花Alert messages?

Each 91探花campus has its own Crisis Communications Team with representatives from a variety of departments and divisions. When a potential emergency or other situation arises, that team meets by phone or video call.

For example, when Seattle Police received a report of shots fired in the 1600 block of NE 50th Street on April 16, 91探花Police heard the call and immediately convened the team. Fourteen members of the 91探花Crisis Communications Team joined a conference call within 60 seconds.

The chair of the team, in collaboration with the team members, quickly reviews event details and decides if a message will be sent. The chair (or the backup) writes the message, which is shared via email, text message, on social media, UW鈥檚 website and on the 91探花Alert blog for each campus. Check out the 91探花Alert blogs for Seattle, and .

Once the team has reliable information these messages can be issued in a matter of minutes. An important note: If there is credible information about an active shooter, a 91探花Alert can be sent immediately by UWPD before the full team convenes for a call.

In Seattle, the team includes members from the 91探花Police Department, Communications, Campus Community Safety, 91探花Emergency Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Housing & Food Services, UW-IT and 91探花Medicine, with liaisons from 91探花Bothell and 91探花Tacoma. For 91探花Bothell and 91探花Tacoma, the teams look similar and are captained by the Campus Safety leads.

What does the Crisis Communications Team consider when deciding whether to send an alert?

91探花is to quickly share information about serious incidents that pose an immediate threat to the campus community when those crimes happen .

The Crisis Communications Team considers sending alerts or advisories for incidents that happen on campus or within several blocks surrounding each 91探花property. At 91探花in Seattle, the team typically looks at incidents within about a five block radius of campus.

The Crisis Communications Team considers several factors before issuing a 91探花Alert or 91探花Advisory, including verifiable information, the time passed since the incident occurred, and whether there鈥檚 a significant, urgent safety risk to students, faculty and staff that may require quick action.

When students, faculty and staff need to know about a serious crime that happened on or near campus, but no immediate action is needed or too much time has passed to make a 91探花Alert message useful, the 91探花 Police Department will inform campus via email in what鈥檚 called a Notification of Criminal Incident. For example, a recent notification let students know about gunshots fired between University Way NE and 15th Ave. NE. No one was hurt.

It鈥檚 a lot to consider, and the team must quickly reach a decision about whether or not to issue a 91探花Alert or 91探花Advisory, often with incomplete initial information. If an alert or advisory is sent, the team will often post updates to the , if they are available, and will generally send a final, closing update to let the campus community know that the immediate threat has ended.

What information is included in suspect descriptions?

When a reliable description of the person or people involved in a reported crime is available, it will be included in the 91探花Alert message or 91探花Alert blog. If a suspect photo is available and after consultation with Seattle police, that will be posted on the blog. Suspect descriptions usually do not include race because historically they鈥檝e proven inconsistent and unreliable. Also, research shows that the inclusion of race does not increase the likelihood a suspect will be identified and can do more harm than good.鹿

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Is your 91探花Alert contact information correct?

Students and employees should check their 91探花Alert accounts regularly (the beginning and end of the academic year is a good time) to make sure your contact information is correct. You can add up to three cell phone numbers and five email addresses, including contact info for family members and friends who want to receive alerts. Remember to select the campuses you want notifications from.

Learn more

For more information about 91探花Alerts and to update your account, visit the 91探花Alert webpage.

The University is tracking multiple events scheduled to take place this evening that have the potential to cause additional noise and disruptions, particularly in the central part of the Seattle campus near the Husky Union Building, The Quad and the light rail station at Husky Stadium.

Our priority is the safety and security of our campus community. We recognize that tensions are especially high due to events around the world, and our hope is that people with opposing views refrain from seeking confrontations and avoid antagonizing one another. We do not detail or share security plans in advance of events, but are taking appropriate advance measures.

If there is a change in University operations or an emergency that poses an immediate potential threat to health and safety on or near campus, a message will be shared via the 91探花Alert system via SMS text message, , on the 91探花website, and . Please make sure your 91探花Alert account information is up to date.

UW鈥檚 Division of Campus Community Safety, 91探花 Police Department, Student Life and University leadership are closely monitoring the encampment established in part of the Seattle campus Quad.

In addressing the encampment, we will maintain our approach of a flexible, measured and appropriate response that addresses the circumstances of each situation. We will continue to prioritize protecting the physical safety of University community members and minimizing disruption to classes and other activities. Individuals and groups found to be violating laws and/or University policies are subject to discipline, following due process and in an appropriate time and manner. Situations requiring emergency action by members of the 91探花community will be addressed through the 91探花Alert system as needed.

For those unfamiliar with the UW鈥檚 Seattle campus, the historic Liberal Arts Quad is the heart of the historic campus map. The Seattle campus now stretches across more than 700 acres of classroom buildings, labs, residence halls and athletic facilities.

91探花will continue to focus on our mission 鈥� educating students, conducting world-changing research, serving patients and the public 鈥� and on protecting the physical safety of our community members.

Meet Samya Murthy, REACH 91探花Outreach Coordinator

Seattle has for several years now been facing a deep crisis of unsheltered homelessness. The 91探花campus in Seattle has not been immune. This past October, 91探花started a contract with REACH to provide a dedicated outreach worker at the 91探花Seattle campus with a goal to build relationships with people experiencing homelessness and connect them with the help they need.

That outreach worker is Samya Murthy, who links people in need 鈥� people he encounters in 91探花campus spaces 鈥� with food, shelter, hygiene supplies and connections to mental health care, substance abuse treatment, case management and other care.

If you work on the 91探花campus in Seattle and want to request Samya鈥檚 help, contact the 91探花Police Department鈥檚 non-emergency line at 206-685-UWPD (8973). Samya works Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We recently asked Samya about his work with 91探花so far.

How did you get into outreach work?

I got into outreach through kind of an unusual path. I experienced homelessness during my senior year of high school. After that, I was working at an upscale restaurant and realized that if I was going to spend a majority of my life working, it might as well be something that matters to me.

For people unfamiliar with REACH, what does the organization do?

REACH has two main groups, one being outreach, the other one being LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) case management. For outreach, our main focus is to meet people where they鈥檙e at. It鈥檚 oftentimes hard when you鈥檙e unhoused to be able to make it to appointments or come to the office to grab supplies. So we go out and meet people and connect them with help, like shelter referrals or replacing an ID.

A good day is getting someone off of the street and into a shelter. About three weeks ago, I got a call that there was a family of three who needed help. They had an 8-year-old with them, and I was able to get them into a family shelter. I was pretty hyped about that. You can see a huge difference in someone who鈥檚 been off the street and in a shelter, even for a week or two. It can be a really quick change once you have significantly less stress.

Tell us about your work at the 91探花campus in Seattle. Is there such a thing as a typical day so far?

A typical day is checking in with buildings that have been flagged for me, where I know there might be some people staying or hanging out. I usually start with the HUB (Husky Union Building). I check in regularly with any buildings requesting help.

What鈥檚 your biggest challenge?

A lot of times, it鈥檚 been hard to find people. If I do get a call, a lot of times they鈥檝e left or been asked to leave the building before I get there. If you encounter someone needing services, if possible, if they鈥檙e not disruptive, please ask the client to stay until I arrive.

What are some misconceptions you鈥檝e encountered about people experiencing homelessness?

I鈥檝e noticed that people have a difficult time discerning the difference between being uncomfortable and being unsafe. A lot of the time, the people they鈥檙e calling about aren鈥檛 committing a crime, they鈥檙e just sitting there.

I know substance use is a big issue and people have complaints about paraphernalia laying around. Addiction is a real challenge. It鈥檚 not that people are going out of their way to use, but they鈥檒l get sick if they don鈥檛. People don鈥檛 have to be clean or sober to receive our services.

When should campus people contact you (using the UWPD non-emergency phone number)?

If you see anyone on campus that seems more vulnerable. That鈥檚 our key focus 鈥� people with high mental needs or substance abuse. If they look like they need some help or just someone to talk to, I don’t mind coming to check it out.

I should add that my role isn鈥檛 crisis intervention. I鈥檓 more pre-crisis or post-crisis. My main goal is to create an environment where people who are unhoused feel safer in their day-to-day life to have someone consistent to rely on. Consistency is not something you get on the streets. It takes a lot of time to gain people鈥檚 trust, identify their goals and navigate different systems.

What are you hoping to accomplish in the next year?

My goal is to become more integrated with 91探花so more people are aware that I am around and willing to help if they see people that they think need it. I also want to minimize the stress between the unhoused community and the UW.

What are you happiest doing when you鈥檙e not working?

Eating. I could eat five meals a day if I had enough time. I play video games and hang out with my friends. My favorite food is ramen and Ethiopian food, but I like everything.

When you鈥檙e walking across campus, you鈥檙e probably not pausing to check your email. But right now, email is the only way most 91探花students receive time-sensitive information about emergencies happening on and near UW鈥檚 campuses.

To make it easier for students to receive 91探花Alerts via text, at the end of January 91探花will start adding the phone number from your 91探花student profile to the 91探花Alert system. If the number is for a cell phone, 91探花will send you 91探花Alerts via text. The messages are only for emergencies or major issues affecting the campus, such as snow, ice or power outages.

91探花is the latest university to move from opt-in alerts to an opt-out emergency text message system for students. Universities that have experienced major incidents often switch to automatic enrollment for alert messages. 91探花is moving proactively to get 91探花Alerts to more students more quickly.

Division of Campus Community Safety staff have been prepping for several months with colleagues in UWIT to make this shift. When we reviewed the goals of the shift this past fall with Seattle campus student leaders and the more than 200 students and parents we met at the Division of Campus Community Safety info table during Parent & Family Weekend in Seattle, many were surprised that students weren鈥檛 already automatically enrolled in 91探花Alert text messages.

Many faculty and staff members were also surprised to learn that only 17 percent of 91探花employees have signed up for 91探花Alert text messages. This first phase of the shift from opt-in to opt-out does not include employee information, but that will come later this year.

Even after 91探花uploads student phone numbers to 91探花Alert, it will be important for students to check their 91探花Alert account to ensure that the cell phone number listed is correct and that you鈥檙e receiving messages for the right campus. Students, faculty and staff can also add or change their cell phone in their 91探花Alert accounts themselves at any time. In an emergency, seconds matter. You need to know what鈥檚 happening quickly and how you can protect yourself.

If you don鈥檛 want to receive 91探花Alerts via text, you can reply STOP to any 91探花Alert text message (except for students living on campus in Seattle, who must contact Housing & Food Services for account changes).

Learn more about the 91探花Alert update, get answers to your 91探花Alert questions and add up to three cell phone numbers and five email addresses to your 91探花Alert account at the 91探花Alert webpage.

Although the , it鈥檚 still smart to be prepared for cold weather. Typically, 91探花campuses see snow and ice in December and January and a bit into February. Here are a few things to know in advance.

It鈥檚 snowing! How can I find out if classes or in-person work are affected?

You see some flakes outside. Are your classes canceled? Do you have to go to work in person?

If UW, 91探花Bothell or 91探花Tacoma decide to change operations due to the weather, we鈥檒l share the news via email with a 91探花Advisory message to students and employees from the affected campus. For those who鈥檝e signed up, we鈥檒l also send you a 91探花Alert text message (pro tip: sign up now). Info will be posted on the website (check the website for your campus) and social media. Employees who work in Seattle can also call the 91探花Information Lines at 206-UWS-INFO (206-897-4636) or toll-free 1-866-897-4636. If there鈥檚 no message, your campus is operating on a regular schedule.

A change in operations could include canceling classes, closing offices or switching to virtual operations (which means no in-person classes or services; remote learning and work if possible). For students, check with your instructors about whether you鈥檒l have class online.

During suspended or virtual operations, employees who aren鈥檛 essential staff (ask your supervisor if you鈥檙e unsure), are encouraged to work remotely. Those who can鈥檛 should follow the .

How does 91探花make the decision to start late, dismiss early or suspend operations?

91探花has a Weather Status Assessment group, which includes representatives from operational and academic units across the three campuses. 91探花Emergency Management feeds weather updates to that group and convenes the group if it looks like the weather might impact mobility and operations.

91探花in Seattle, 91探花Bothell and 91探花Tacoma consider current weather conditions and reliable forecasts, whether public transit is operating, current and predicted road conditions, K-12 school operations and whether UW鈥檚 Facilities crews have the tools and people to keep pathways and roadways on campuses safe. A team from each campus makes recommendations for hybrid, virtual or suspended operations to the President and Chancellors.

In the event of snow, ice, high winds or other dangerous conditions, a decision will usually be made no later than 5 a.m. about any change in operations.

• 91探花in Seattle – Winter Storms

Getting to campus

If it鈥檚 snowy out, be prepared for changes to your commute. If you ride the bus, check , or for updates and snow routes.

, but some emergencies, such as mudslides, can cancel service.

If you鈥檙e driving, especially if you鈥檙e planning a longer trip over a mountain pass, the and suggestions about what to carry in your car.

What if I can鈥檛 make it to campus?

Conditions may be different at your home than they are on campus. If it鈥檚 not safe for you to get to campus, students should contact instructors as soon as possible.

Employees should contact their supervisor if they鈥檙e unable to come to work. .

If heavy and extended snow is in the forecast, units should check their department鈥檚 business interruption and continuity plan and talk with supervisors. UW’s Center for Teaching & Learning also has excellent recommendations for .

More info

Check out the 91探花Emergency Management winter storm guide for 91探花and local info. (layers matter).

Stay safe out there, Huskies!