Intercom

Dear Ithaca College Students,

We are so excited that the Fall 2023 semester is officially underway! Experiencing all the beauty, vibrancy, and culture of our local area is one of the hallmarks of the Ithaca College experience. In advance of the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend, we wanted to bring awareness to some important safety information that you should keep in mind at all times when out and about both on campus and in the local community.

Stay Alert and Trust Your Instincts
Keep your head up and always be aware of your surroundings. Focusing on distractions such as cell phones or other devices limits overall awareness of your surrounding environment and can result in being more susceptible to potential unsafe encounters. This is important even in areas where you may feel comfortable. Trust your instincts and do not let your guard down.

Use the Buddy System
There is always strength in numbers. Walking with a friend or group of friends, particularly at night, is good practice whether you are on or off campus. The Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol (SASP) provides a walking safety escort service on campus during the evening hours of 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.; however, students can request a walking escort to on-campus locations at any time of day or night by calling the Office of Public Safety at 607-274-3333 or by utilizing the nearest blue-light phone.

Know Your Route
Always know a well-traveled, direct, and well-lit route when traveling to your destination. Avoid “shortcuts” or other routes that take you onto less-traveled pathways. If traveling by car, rideshare, or bus, have a transportation plan. If you are utilizing a rideshare service, always be sure to confirm that the name, make and model of the vehicle, and license plate number match what is displayed in the app before entering the vehicle.

Moderation is Key
If you are drinking alcohol, please remember to do so in moderation. The use of alcohol and other substances can impair judgement and general awareness. It is especially important to know and trust the source of alcohol and other substances. If the source is unknown, please dispose of the substance.

Download RAVE Guardian App
Ithaca College highly encourages students to download and install the Ithaca College Rave Guardian app on their smartphone. This free app is an important tool that provides the campus community with emergency notifications as well as quick and easy access to important safety and support contacts, information, and resources. The Guardian Timer function is highly recommended and allows you to invite a friend or family member to serve as your “guardian” and virtually escort you to and/or from an on-campus or off-campus location.

Subscribe to Local Alerts
Tompkins County has implemented the SIREN (formerly known as Swift911) messaging system, which allows you to receive customized alerts about local emergency situations. You can sign up and learn how to download and install the free smartphone app by visiting the SIREN website.

Those interested in receiving a text notification when Cornell University sends out an emergency alert can sign up by texting “CornellVisitor” to 226787. This subscription must be renewed annually. More information can be found on Cornell’s emergency notifications website.

Additional Safety Information
If you see something suspicious or at any time feel unsafe while on campus, contact Public Safety by calling 607-274-3333, utilizing the nearest blue-light phone, or activating the IC Public Safety button on the Guardian app.

If you encounter a threatening situation off campus, first try to remove yourself from the situation and then call 911 or activate the Local 911 Center button on the Guardian app.

You can find more personal safety tips, including upcoming self-defense training, on the Public Safety website. 

Thank you for your attention and commitment to fostering a safer community experience. We hope you have a safe, healthy, and successful Fall 2023 semester!

Sincerely,

Marsha Dawson
Dean of Students, Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life

Bill Kerry
Executive Director, Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management