Photograph of Western’s blue 24 hour emergency police call box. Box reads in large letters, emergency, call box and police call box. Instructions for its use say “1. Push button for help 2. When call is received 3. Push and hold to talk 4. Release to listen” On the right side of the box there is a large red button, labeled with “Push for Help” with the braille underneath.
by: WavelengthPosted on:

Where to Go When Something Goes Wrong: Student Support Services

One of Western’s 24 hour emergency police call boxes, these call boxes are dotted around campus. This box is in Western’s C parking lot in south campus. Joe Addison//AS Review

BY MACKENZIE DEXTER

Becoming a first-year student at Western can be overwhelming due to discovering new living environments, navigating campus and bonding with peers. With handfuls of information being thrown at new students, it is easy to build a pile of random pamphlets and brochures into a drawer. However, student safety is a non-negotiable topic that every student is entitled to and should know about. Western offers numerous safety programs through University Police, AS Programs and Wellness services. 

A graphic containing a list of the following campus safety resources: University Police, Office of Student Life, Student Advocacy & Identity Resource Centers [SAIRC], Prevention and Wellness Services, Equal Opportunity Offices, and the Ethnic Student Center. All this information can be found in the article as well.
A list containing the on-campus safety resources for students. Joe Addison//AS Review

University Police

An image of Western’s Campus Services building seen from Bill McDonald Parkway.
Western’s Campus Services building viewed from the northwest side. Campus Services hosts the University Police, Western’s Visitor Information desk and Student Health Center. Joe Addison//AS Review

University Police is the main resource for students, in case of emergencies. University Police work with services, such as Safety Escorts and Parking Services, to provide safety for the Western community. More information about University Police can be found on their website.

Safety Escorts, also known as Green Coats, are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, to escort students to and from locations specifically on campus. Campus emergency phones are also available throughout campus and may be used for immediate emergencies. 

The AS Review reached out to University Police for a comment but did not receive a response. 

Emergency on-campus number: 360-650-3911

Emergency off-campus number: 911

Non-Emergency/Safety Escorts [Green Coats] number: 360-650-3555

There is a number provided for students who wish to report an incident but would prefer to remain anonymous.

Anonymous reporting number: 360-650-7233

The Office of Student Life

The Office of Student Life provides help and support for students who are experiencing difficulties and are in need of resources, Micheal Sledge, Associate Dean of Students, said.

The Office of Student Life is also responsible for “educating students on Western’s Student Conduct Code, and holding accountable students who engage in misconduct and assisting students in understanding and navigating the University’s policies and processes,” Sledge said.

Students are encouraged to call or email if they have any further questions about the services provided. More information about The Office of Student Life is available at their website. 

Office of Student Life: VU 547

Office of Student Life number: 360-650-3706

Student Advocacy & Identity Resource Centers

Student Advocacy & Identity Resource Centers [SAIRC] is a group of student advocacy sources that help students connect to resources and events on and off campus, Alberto Rodriguez- Escobedo, Interim Coordinator for Student Advocacy & Identity Resource Center, said. 

The SAIRC consists of the Queer Resource Center [QRC], Womxn’s Identity Resource Center [WIRC], Blue Resource Center [BRC], Legal Information Center [LIC], Disability Outreach Center [DOC] and Veterans Community Coordinator [VCC], Rodriguez- Escobedo said.

SAIRC supports Western Hub of Learning Essentials [WHOLE], which provides access to food, clothes and personal hygiene products and care to students and staff. The pantries for these items are located at VU 511, Rodriguez-Escobedo said. Another food pantry is located at Birnam Wood on south campus. 

This year SAIRC is hosting a number of events on campus, such as Food Security Week from Oct. 14-19.

“We will be launching our second annual Food Security Week alongside our Swipe Out Hunger Program [collaboration with Aramark, Office of Sustainability, Associated Students and ResLife] where students can donate meals and where students can request meals to be utilized in the dining halls on campus,” Rodriguez-Escobedo said. 

The Blue Resource Center, the newest addition to SAIRC, will be working with the AS Executive Board and the Ethnic Student Center, Rodriguez-Escobedo said. 

“The BRC will be working with and alongside our undocumented and mixed-status students at Western, by providing referrals to resources off and on campus and educational programming such as the Undocumented Week in Spring Quarter,” Rodriguez-Escobedo said.  

The BRC will work on trainings and works on how students, staff and faculty can engage and support undocumetned and mixed-status students on campus, Rodriguez-Escobedo said.

For more information visit the SAIRC website for contact numbers, emails and more information about all programs in the SAIRC.

SAIRC main office: VU 756

SAIRC number: 360-650-6127

Queer Resource Center office: VU 723A

QRC number: 360-650-6120

Womxn’s Identity Resource Center office: VU 721

WIRC number: 360-650-6114

Blue Resource Center office: VU 720

BRC number: 360-650-2022

Legal Information Center office: VU 474

LIC number: 360-650-6111

Disability Outreach Center office: VU 722

DOC number: 360-650-6116

Veteran’s Outreach Center office: WL 165

VOC number: 360-650-3324

Prevention and Wellness Services

Photograph of the Old Main building from the Old Main lawn showing the west side of the building and the south stairs.
Western’s Old Main building which houses CASAS, ADCAS Alcohol/Drug Support, Equal Opportunity Office, Sexual Health Resources and Counseling Center. Joe Addison//AS Review

Prevention and Wellness Services [PWS] is made up of several departments on Western’s campus. The PWS includes ADCAS Alcohol and Drug Support, CASAS Survivor Advisory, Sexual Health Resources, Violence Prevention and Education and Campus Wellness Resources, such as the Counseling Center and the Student Health Center, according to their website.

Prevention and Wellness Services main office: Old Main 560

PWS number: 360-650-2993

PWS email: pws@wwu.edu

Part of the services provided by PWS is CASAS, a confidential service for students who have experienced past or recent violence, Jessica Alvaro, CASAS Advocate, said. 

“We provide emotional support and access to resources to make sure students continue to be successful while they move through their healing process,” Alvaro said. “We also provide support to friends or family members of those who have experienced violence.”

Alvaro also said how important it is for all students to know that CASAS is here to support everyone who needs it. She said that the best way to reach CASAS is by calling or stopping by their office. 

CASAS office: Old Main 585B

CASAS number: 360-650-3700

ADCAS Alcohol/Drug Support office: Old Main 560C

ADCAS Alcohol/Drug Support number: 360-650-6865

Sexual Health Resources office: Old Main 565B

Sexual Health Resources number: 360-650-7557

Sexual Health Resources email: sexualhealth@wwu.edu

Counseling Center office: Old Main 540

Counseling Center number: 360-650-3164

Student Health Center office: Campus Services, second floor

Student Health Center number: 360-650-3400 

Equal Opportunity Office 

The Equal Opportunity Office [EOO] is in place to make sure that students and staff are safe from discrimination and sexual harrasment, according to their website. If students feel as though they have been treated unfairly due to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex [including pregnancy and parenting status], gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, and genetic information, according to the EOO website. 

The AS Review reached out to the EOO for comment but did not receive a response. 

Equal Opportunity Office main office: Old Main 345

EOO number: 360-650-3307

EOO email: eoo@wwu.edu

The Ethnic Student Center

The Ethnic Student Center [ESC] is a student program consisting of 19 clubs that focus on student identity, community and leadership, according to their website. The ESC recently moved to the newly built Multicultural Center on the seventh floor. 

The AS Review received a response from the ESC, but they are not available for comment. 

Ethnic Student Center main office: Multicultural Center 7th Floor

ESC number: 360-650-7271

In Summary

Western is home to many programs that offer help and support with a magnitude of resources for students. It is important for students to know that they are not alone and have support systems available to them on campus during this transitioning time. 

“As new students, there are so many resources on campus for a variety of needs, identities and situations. Please utilize them as they are here to help support you as you navigate college,” Rodriguez-Escobedo said. 

Correction 10/6: The “In Summary” heading was added before the final two paragraphs to properly separate them from the section about the ESC. This was done to ensure that Rodriguez-Escobedo’s comments were not interpreted as being from the ESC.