BSU Orientation to Kick-Off Intensified Safety Message

The 2015 orientation program for new students at Bemidji State University will include a presentation and panel discussion for all incoming freshmen specifically focused on student safety, responsible behavior and caring for fellow students. These topics have gained greater urgency than ever at BSU in light of the tragic hypothermia death of a BSU student in December 2014.

The program, called "Life on Campus and What You Need to Know" will be presented Saturday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. in Hagg-Sauer Hall, room 100.

A new video, called "Who's Got Your Back?: No Buddy Left Behind" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUjSt_tMlDw), will be publicly shown for the first time at this session. The video will also be shared on the BSU website and used in other campus programs and events. Also, green rubber bracelets with the words "S.O.S. SAVE OUR STUDENTS" will be distributed to all students who attend. The video, produced in partnership with Lakeland Television here in Bemidji, was a student project coordinated by Jay Passa of BSU's Student Center for Health and Counseling. The idea for the bracelets came out of a joint student-employee-community task force on safety that President Richard Hanson convened to find ways to improve BSU's overall student safety practices and communication. Hanson plans to attend the meeting, which will also cover such topics as student conduct policies.

The task force's recommendations, submitted to Hanson in May, are included in the attached Word document. Under Hanson's leadership, BSU will be implementing many of those recommendations in consultation with key campus stakeholders.