Hyderabad|India|October'2008: US based 127 years old Concordia
University, a Lutherans Missionary institution which is a home to over 5,400
students from 38 countries all over the world which includes 500 from India and
three hundred from Andhra Pradesh conducted its free information seminar here in
city at B.M. Birla Planetarium recently to help students in admission process.
The students turn out was a bit surprising to the organisers. More than 1500
students aspiring to seek admission in a US University came up to the seminar.
The conference hall had place to accommodate only 300 students. Hundreds of
students had to wait outside the B.M. Birla Planetarium as there was no place
for them to sit in the conference hall. And they waited patiently to interact
with officials for two hours.
It seemed until recently that insecurity
gripped Indian students in US. Four Indian
students have been killed at US universities in a
span of less than a year. The students seem to be
unperturbed by the violent deaths which have
shocked students across the country and raised
questions about their safety. Despite of the sad
killings of Andhra students, the craze to study in
US doesn't seem to have come down.
When asked Ms. Darlene Khalsa, Director of International Student
Programming of Concordia University who addressed the seminar she said
there is no fall in Admissions from Indian students to their university.
In fact, the number of students seeking admissions in their university is
on the rise.
Speaking further she added that their University is the 3rd Safest
University in the USA. And it is the most disciplined university. The
safety and security aspect of the International students in our University
is in place. We have a dedicated and fully functional 24 hours and 365
days Safety and Security Department which ensures safety of our students
she said.
The Mission of the Campus Safety Office is "to aid and assist faculty,
staff and students of the University, and the university itself, when any
one is faced with situations that threaten safety and/or property…" The
safety of our campus community members is at the forefront of everything
that we do. The Campus Safety Office is dedicated to ensuring a safe and
productive environment for our campus community members. The Campus Safety
Office is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The
Campus Safety Office is available for safety escorts to anywhere on campus
that you do not feel comfortable traveling alone, she informed.
The University also orients students on these aspects. If the crime
report of the University which has not registered any major problems over
the last many years is any indication, it is the most safest one. I have
been working in this University for the past 20 years and if it was not
safe I wouldn't have continued working, she said.
To help guide students and assure their safety she has listed out some
guidelines to International students which include Indian students as
well. Always lock your door- no matter how long you expect to be gone.
Don’t let strangers into your room. If a stranger is in your room, keep
the door wide open. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight. Don’t leave
large amounts of cash in your room, even if it’s "hidden" in your sock
drawer. Keep your blinds pulled at night and when you’re out.
Personal Items: Engrave valuable items such as computers,
stereos, TV’s, bikes, etc. Record the engraved information for easy
tracking if an item is stolen. The Campus Safety Office has an engraver
that may be checked out. Please contact the office for more details. Place
identifying marks on your textbooks. Mark a certain page in a textbook
with your name and a number such as driver license number or Student ID
number. Record this information for future reference if needed. If
bringing a bike onto campus, remember to lock it up. Also you may register
your bike with the Campus Safety Office.
Parking Lots & Vehicles: Have your car key in hand, ready to put
in the lock, as you’re walking toward your car. Look underneath your car
as you are approaching it. Check the backseat before getting into your
car. Park as close to your destination as possible. If you are unable to
find a close spot, utilize the Campus Safety escort service to escort you
to and from your location. Always keep your car locked, whether you are in
it or not.
Personal Info: Don’t post on your memo board where you are and
what your schedule is. Leave a message for your roommate inside your room.
Be aware of what your outgoing voicemail message says. Avoid saying your
name and extension on your message and do not inform a caller that you are
not in your room right now.
Don’t give out information about yourself over the phone.
Obscene Phone Calls & Threatening E-mails: Don’t continue
talking with someone who makes obscene comments. Save answering machine or
voice mail messages. Turn this information over to Campus Safety
immediately so that your caller can be tracked. Save threatening e-mail
messages and print them out.
Hate/Bias- Related Incidents: If someone threatens you based on
your race, religion, gender or other characteristics, seek help
immediately. This should not be tolerated by you or anyone else.
Campus Community Safety: DO NOT prop doors, especially those
leading into the residence halls. They are locked for you and your
neighbors safety. Report the presence of strangers to residence hall staff
and/or Campus Safety. Don’t let strangers into your hall, even if they
tell you they are visiting a friend. All halls have a phone at the
entrance that the person can use to call the person they wish to visit.
Let someone know about the "little things" - such as bathroom leaks,
slippery floors, broken furniture, missing screen, etc. If you see that a
light is burned out or a piece of emergency equipment is missing or has
been tampered with, report it to Campus Safety or your RA immediately.
Always be aware of your surroundings and make note of and report
unusual or suspicious activity. University also educates its students
disseminating Information provided in partnership with PaperClip
Communications "Staying Safe on Campus."
Campus Safety & Crime Report: The safety of all members of our
campus community is high priority at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Become an informed member of our campus community to protect yourself and
welcome visitors.
Reachout's News Bureau
October'
2008
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