Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Friday, 04/17/09 and Monday, 04/20/09. ALMETRIS DUREN RESIDENCE HALL, 2624 Whitis Harassment: A UT student reported that a former acquaintance of hers has placed several unwanted and annoying telephone calls to her cellular telephone since he broke the relationship off approximately a month ago. Reported on 04/18/09 at 6:00 p.m. JESTER CENTER WEST, 201 East 21st Street Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor: A UT student, who was under the age of 21, was found loitering inside a 1st floor men's restroom. The student was found to have consumed alcoholic beverages. Occurred on 04/18/09 at 1:30 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: See Below NEURAL AND MOLECULAR SCIENCE BUILDING, 2506 Speedway Theft: A burnt orange laptop carrying case containing a Sony Vaio laptop computer was stolen when it was left inside an unsecured 5th floor room. The door to the room was kept closed and unlocked except for a five minute period area when the owner left the room to wash her hands. Loss value: $1,200.00. Occurred on 04/17/09 between 4:00 p.m. and 517 p.m. PERRY-CASTANEDA LIBRARY, 101 East 21st Street Public Intoxication: A UT student was found to be passed out while seated at a table located on the plaza of the library. When awakened, the student demonstrated a brief involuntary physical reaction to the over-consumption of an alcoholic beverage. The student was found to be under the influence of such alcoholic beverage to the point she was a danger to herself. Occurred on 04/19/09 at 3:34 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: See Below T.S. PAINTER HALL, 103 West 24th Street Theft: A black and silver Fuji Outland Pro bicycle was stolen while it was “secured†with a cable lock to the bicycle racks located on the west side of the building. Loss value: $1,100.00. Occurred on 04/17/09 between 1:55 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. T.U. TAYLOR HALL, #8 East Mall Suspicious Activity: A UT Staff member reported an unknown subject had entered her 2nd floor office and asked for the men's restroom and then asked if the office belonged to “JoAnn.†The staff member then found out the subject had been wandering around the building attempting to enter various offices. When confronted by staff members, the subject stated he was looking for “JoAnn.†The subject was described as a black male in his 40's with short hair, well groomed and last seen wearing khaki pants, an orange shirt and a blue jacket. Occurred on 04/17/09 at 12:15 p.m. TOWNES HALL, 727 East Dean Keeton Criminal Trespass / Failure to Identify: A non-UT subject, who had previously been issued a written criminal trespass warning, was reported by a staff member as being in the area. The male subject was found inside a 3rd floor women's restroom. The subject initially provided a fictitious name to the police officer. The subject's name was soon discovered after the arrival of an officer who was present when the subject was previously issued the criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 04/18/09 at 12:44 a.m. WALTER WEBB HALL, 2500 Guadalupe Public Intoxication: A UT student was found using the east exterior wall of the building to defeat the effects of gravity on an impaired person. The student initially stated she had not been drinking, but later realized the futile nature of denying alcohol as the cause for her current state. The student was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point she was deemed to be a danger to herself. Occurred on 04/17/09 at 3:34 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: See Below WALTER WEBB HALL, 2500 Guadalupe Graffiti: Pink gel markers were used to write illegible words on the east exterior wall of the building. Removal cost: $50.00. Discovered on 04/18/09 at 11:45 a.m. 900 Lavaca Assist Outside Agency: A non-UT subject was stopped for driving a 2000 Toyota Tacoma at night without the vehicle's headlamps turned on. The subject was found to have two outstanding outside agency arrest warrants for traffic violations. Occurred on 04/19/09 at 1:46 a.m. 2200 San Jacinto Public Intoxication: A non-UT subject was reported as being in an intoxicated state and wanting to drive her vehicle. The subject was found inside the vehicle, but had not yet started the car. The subject was indeed found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point she was deemed to be a danger to herself and other. Occurred on 04/19/09 at 12:58 a.m. Crime Prevention Tip: Often times, the alcohol related entries in the Campus Watch are portrayed as humorous. Sadly, the ill effects alcohol is not always evident in the words of this correspondence. Every year, so many people die needlessly in alcohol related incidents. Even more people suffer life changing injuries while under the influence of alcohol. What about the injuries that lie within? Did you know that alcohol consumption is a factor in as many as 90% of all sexual assault occurrences? That means that either, the survivor of sexual assault, the perpetrator of sexual assault or both parties had consumed alcoholic beverages before the assault. An environment where alcohol is being served, such as a party or a bar, serves as an excellent opportunity for a predator to prey upon a potential victim. While alcohol itself serves as the most popular form of “date rape drug,†the addition of any number of drugs to the mix can render a person unconscious. To help, protect yourself from a variety of ill effects from these liquid libations, consider the following: - ALWAYS take a responsible sober friend with you when you go out for a night on the town. Make a pact with that person that grants him or her the authority to remove you from a bad situation. A sober friend can keep you alive, keep you safe and can keep you out of jail. - TELL friends, family and / or roommates where you are going, when you expect to be back, who you are going with and a telephone number where you can be reached. - KNOW your limits and stay within those limits. If you know you can only handle three drinks before you start to lose your good judgment, then, only bring enough drinking money for three drinks. - ALTERNATE alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverage; especially water. Alcohol has a tendency to dehydrate the consumer. By alternating drinks, you extend the night, lower the bar tab, stay hydrated and increase the chances of the night ending well. - NEVER drink on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat before you go out and while you are out. Food in the stomach reduces the rate of alcohol absorption. - NEVER accept a drink form anyone other than the wait staff or bar tender. If someone brings you a drink, offer it back to them and tell that person you will pick up the next round. - ALWAYS keep your drink with you. Once you set your drink down, it becomes more susceptible to being dosed. Even having your drink on the table in front of you leaves it open to being dosed. A common method by predators is to dose your drink while extending a hand to get a condiment on the table or while reaching to shake your hand. Always watch the hands of people around you. If someone draws their hand over the top of your drink – then forsake the drink. Once you leave your drink for the dance floor, the restroom or for anything, forsake that drink and get a new one. - PLAN for things like transportation before you go out. Refrain from taking your car to your night's destination. Sadly, too many people forget they drank too much before they get into their car. Alcohol has a way of making people think they can do things they probably shouldn't do like driving a car. Plan to have your sober friend drive, take the e-bus, walk or call a cab. Any cab fare is cheaper than a lifetime of regret. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, the University of Texas Police Department responded to 41 alarm calls, 5 “Police Help†callbox activations, 2 fire alarms, 7 unsecured door reports, 5 public assist requests, 3 medical emergency assists, 1 found property report, 1 gasoline leak call and 3 suspicious activity reports between 04/17/09 and 04/20/09. If you are a faculty or staff member that has been affected by a crime, the UT Employee Assistance Program (471-3366) is available for counseling and referrals to other appropriate services. http://www.utexas.edu/hr/eap/ To view a map of the campus visit: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/maps/index.html RAD Program For Women, Now Available (Classes are FREE) Advanced RAD Classes Being Held for RAD Class Graduates The RAD program is a 16-hour course of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women that covers assault prevention and risk reduction while progressing on to basic hands-on defense training. http://www.utexas.edu/police/rad/ Defensive Driving: Learn Defensive Driving from a UTPD Police Officer. UTPD generally schedules a Defensive Driving Class approximately once a month – based on need. The classes meet in the University Police Building, Room 1.318, located at 2201 Robert Dedman Dr (east of Memorial Stadium). The cost for the course is $25.00 (check or cash) payable on class date. If paying in cash, please bring the exact amount because change may not be available. You will also need to bring your driver's license. For more information, to check for the next available class time or to register on-line go to: http://www.utexas.edu/police/services/defensive_driving.php Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) The Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) is a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and the University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). BCAL provides a central resource for UT faculty, students, and staff who may have concerns about the behavior or well-being of another member of the campus community. By calling BCAL at 512-232-5050, callers may talk with trained staff members who will assist the caller in exploring available options and strategies as well as referrals to appropriate campus support networks. For more information on BCAL, visit the BCAL Web site at www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal or call 512-232-5050. Contact UT Police at 471-4441 if you have any information regarding any of the above incidents or call 911 regarding suspicious persons, suspicious activities or crime. Your call may help solve or prevent a crime. Campus Watch comments should be directed to Officer Darrell Halstead at 512-232-9634 or via e-mail to Darrell.halstead@austin.utexas.edu . Prepared by WRP To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
