Jasmin Espinosa BROWNSVILLE – UTRGV students, faculty and staff can feel protected during the holiday season with its Campus Shield app.
According to the UTRGV website, the app connects users with campus police, while also providing resources for campus travel.
The American Automobile Association reports that over one hundred million Americans travel 50-miles or more during winter break.
If any UTRGV community members decide to travel over the holidays, campus resources can still help them, as UTRGV community engagement police officer Marco Huerta said the app will connect them to the appropriate department, depending on their location.
“It has our 911 emergency number for the university on there,” Huerta said. “A lot of people ask me, ‘will that emergency [number] work if you’re not on campus?’ It does. So, if it doesn’t go to our university 911, you may go to a local department, depending on what city you’re in and you can make contact with them. If it does go to the UTRGV emergency line, just let them know where you’re at and then we they’ll put you in contact with those proper authorities.”
If students stay in the dorms during the holiday break, they can access Safe Walk, a feature in which a police officer will escort them to their vehicle or destination if they’re feeling unsafe.
Huerta suggested that students participating in holiday activities should set a limit on their alcohol consumption and keep emergency contact numbers on hand.
“Also arranged for designated drivers, or some type of rideshare services,” he said. “For their safe transportation after the party.” … “And also, if they can also keep emergency number contact numbers, easily accessible for them.” … “And also, be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.” … “If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s probably not right. Go with that instinct.”
KVAQ-TV interviewed students around campus to see how they’re planning on staying safe over the holidays.
“To stay vigilant, to share my location, make sure that everybody like that people are aware and that to make sure that, like, like in a good headspace before, like going anywhere,” Natalie Gonzalez, an integrated health sciences freshman, said.
“Sticking to really crowded areas or sticking to a really well-lit areas or like really common ways to get to where you’re going, like not taking any back roads, any back alleys, something like that, especially when it’s getting later, dark out. That’s what I’ve heard and I practice it a lot,” Aidden Leal, an integrated health sciences freshman, said.
Users can call the UTRGV Police Department at 882-4911 for assistance.
The Campus Shield app is also available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
