The Bradley University Police Department hosted “Coffee with a Cop” Wednesday night, an event where students could have open dialogues and ask officers questions while drinking free coffee.
While some students discussed a recent burglary resulting in a chase down the Main Street hill, Kappa Delta sorority members asked questions regarding their residence’s safety during the campus lockdown Monday night.
When Kappa Delta members received the first BU foreWarn text message, residents disagreed on where to move, according to junior learning behavior specialist major Taylor Provax.
“We gathered everyone to go downstairs, but there’s a big window down there that made several people uncomfortable,” Provax said. “So, when we got the next text, we decided to move into the storage room, and that’s when opinions started to differ if that was the best plan.”
At the event, about eight Kappa Deltas gathered around three officers to ask for advice on how to create and implement a safety plan.
“Don’t focus on fortifying your house but instead focus on having an action plan,” BUPD officer Nathan Haynes said. “Once you figure out what your plan is, come to us and we would love to sit down and talk things out.”
Officers also addressed what to do if a student has anxiety issues.
“If you’re not a good leader and can’t be calm, be a good follower and listen to directions,” another BUPD officer said.
Provax said setting a solid safety plan is definitely something the sorority is going to pursue.
“We want to ensure the safety of everyone living in the house, and because we are technically off-campus, we have to take care of that on our own,” she said.
Officers stressed the importance of bringing safety suggestions and issues to their attention.
