With over 7,500 enrolled students, 400 faculty members and members of the public, Mesa State is a busy campus. With all these people walking across campus, Mesa State takes numerous steps to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.
Mesa State is unusual by having an actual police station on campus, The blue phones around campus and the whistle program are effective ways for students to alert on-campus security of an emergency.
Operation I.D. is designed to keep students’ possessions safe. Operation I.D. requires students to give serial numbers and descriptions of their personal equipment, such as laptops and iPods to campus security in case they are lost or stolen. If the item is found, it can be returned to the proper person.
The escort service is made up of students trained by the police that will escort other students to their car or residence late at night. S.E.R.F.S. is made up of dedicated student volunteers who give up their nights and weekends to drive those who need it home.
MSC makes sure that parking lots, walkways and other places around campus are well lit. Every fall semester and as needed, campus is checked for safety by security along with some faculty members and students, who will walk around campus looking for places that could be hazardous for students.
“The credit goes to John Marshall and Tim Foster who want to keep the campus safe,” Police Sgt. Pua Utu said.
Marshall and Utu encourage student feedback.
Recently, some faculty members invited an expert speaker to MSC and speak about campus safety. Nationally acclaimed clinical and police psychologist Dr. John Nicoletti told MSC faculty that his most important message is paying attention to peoples’ behavior. If someone makes a threat, you should believe them. Nicoletti has visited schools following multiple shootings including Columbine and Virginia Tech. He was also on scene at the Platte Canyon High School shooting in September 2006.
“I’m excited to work with your campus. You got a lot of exciting things going on,” Nicoletti said.
Mesa State faculty is also being informed and trained for lock downs and other high-risk situations.
“Pua’s team does a really good job at keeping us safe,” Vice President of Student Services, John Marshall said.
Campus security works hard to keep the college safe. They have different programs on campus such as Drug and Alcohol Awareness. There is always going to be further training such as self-defense courses for both students and faculty.

sblaisur@mesastate.edu