University of Colorado Student Union

Legislative Council

April 6, 2009                                                                                                              70LCB11 - SIC             

Sponsored by:                       Victoria Garcia                                  Tri-Executive

                                                Christine Thai                                    Representative at Large

                                               

                                    

Authored by:                          Victoria Garcia                                  Tri-Executive

                                                Eva Hueber                                        Director of Neighborhood/City Relations

                                                Victor Hsu                                          Director of Health and Safety

 

A Bill to Create a Safety Initiatives Coalition

Bill History

In the fall of 2008, a series of attacks occurred in the City Boulder which greatly impacted the University campus community.  Attacks have included bias-motivated attacks, sexual assaults, and stranger attacks among others.  In an effort to address the serious concerns regarding the safety and security of the campus and students, faculty and staff who reside in the City of Boulder; the Safety Initiatives Coalition was formed to address many of these serious issues.  As a student led effort, there have been tremendous strides to understanding campus and community efforts towards safety, sentiments regarding safety both on and off campus, and areas of collaboration to promote safety measures.

The first meeting of the Safety Initiatives Task Force (now Coalition) was in November 2008 and has since then met every month.  Members of the Coalition include many various students and staff, open to anyone who would like to become involved. 

In March 2009, a campus safety survey was sent via E-Memo to all faculty, staff and students asking many questions regarding safety.  Recommendations from the survey will be presented to the larger coalition in April 2009, with more work to be done informing the various impacted groups on campus of the recommendations.

Safety sustainability is among one of the various goals of the Coalition.  This bill will help to formalize the Coalition for future leaders to become involved.

The Safety Initiatives Coalition strives to communicate and collaborate with members of the University of Colorado campus, in partnership with the City of Boulder, in order to strengthen our community through increased accessibility to safety education, resources, and practices.

Bill Summary

This bill will create a Safety Initiatives Coalition upon passage by Legislative Council. The Coalition will be comprised of a collection of safety organizations and resource programs on campus. The purpose of the Safety Initiatives Coalition will be to support and unify all safety efforts across campus in an effort to promote a safe climate for university students, faculty and staff.  Furthermore, the Safety Initiatives Coalition will work to inform students, faculty and staff of these resources, hereby improving communication with the campus and greater Boulder community regarding safety issues on campus.

The establishment of the Safety Initiatives Coalition will reinforce the University’s commitment to providing a safe environment for all students. It will also allow for increased UCSU involvement in achieving this goal of promoting and unifying safety initiatives.

THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED: 

SECTION 1:  This bill creates a Safety Initiatives Coalition, which will report to the Executive Branch.

SECTION 2:  Members of the Safety Initiatives Coalition may consist of volunteer representatives from the following campus and City of Boulder organizations, but are not limited to:

1.      Alcohol and Other Drugs

2.      Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Climate

3.      Boulder Fire Department

4.      Boulder Police Department

5.      Chancellor’s Committee of Women

6.      Chancellor’s Committee on GLBT Issues

7.      City Manager’s Office

8.      Community Health

9.      Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

10. CU Helpline

11. CU Nightride

12. CU Police Department

13. CU Recreation Center

14. CU Risk Management

15. CU Security/Public Safety

16. Dean of Students

17. Emergency Management Operations Group

18. Facilities Management

19. Interfraternal Council

20. Moving to Ending Sexual Assault (MESA)

21. Off Campus Student Services (OCSS)

22. Office of Orientation

23. Office of Parent Relations

24. Office of Victims Assistance

25. Panhellenic Association

26. Resident Hall Association

27. Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment  (SASH )

28. Take Back the Night

29. University Communications

30. University Memorial Center (UMC)

31. Women’s Resource Center

 

SECTION 3:   UCSU representation shall consist of the following:

 

1.      One (1) member of Legislative Council to be appointed by the Legislative Council President.

2.      UCSU Tri-Executives

3.      UCSU Diversity Director

4.      UCSU Health and Safety Director

5.      UCSU Neighborhood/City Director

6.      One (1) member each of the UCSU Diversity Commission and the Gender Violence Prevention Task Force.

 

SECTION 4:  The Chairship of the Safety Initiatives Coalition shall be a Tri-Executive, the UCSU Director of Health and Safety or the UCSU Neighborhood/City Relations Director, and the University/City Liaison. 

SECTION 5:  The purpose of the Safety Initiatives Task Force will include but are not limited to the following goals:

1.      Education and awareness about campus safety programs, resources, and services.

2.      Enhancing and streamlining communication about these initiatives.

3.      Promoting sustainable safety efforts.

4.      Improving safety initiatives and partnerships.

5.      Collaborating safety efforts between different offices, programs, and initiatives.

SECTION 6:   Funding for the Safety Initiatives Coalition will come from the various organizations represented in an effort to collaborate safety efforts. 

SECTION 7:  The Chairs of the Safety Initiatives Coalition shall give a formal presentation regarding the work of the Coalition on campus to the Legislative Council once a semester.

SECTION 8:   UCSU Legislative and Executive staff will support the Safety Initiatives Coalition to the fullest of its capabilities, particularly when campus safety needs are not being met. 

SECTION 9:   This bill takes effect upon passage by Legislative Council and upon obtaining the signature of the Legislative Council President and the Tri-executives.

 

Vote Count

4/9/09                                                             Passed 1st Reading                                   Acclamation

4/16/09                                                           Passed 2nd Reading                                   Acclamation

 

 

____________________________                     ______________________________

Blaine Pelicore                                                          Ryan Biehle

UCSU Legislative Council President                     Tri-Executive

 

_________________________________          _______________________________

Dustin Farivar                                                            Victoria Garcia

Tri-Executive                                                  Tri-Executive