WINNIPEG, MB – UWinnipeg President and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy made the following statement during a media briefing today:
“Welcome everyone. Today I am joined by Cst. Jacqueline Chaput from the Winnipeg Police Service.
First let me say that the safety and security of students, faculty and staff is the number one priority of the University. The University has taken the responsible and appropriate approach by disclosing to our community a warning message found written on a wall of one of our washroom facilities.
Here are the facts:
Yesterday, Sept. 19, 2007, a student reported to Security Services the observation of a warning message on a washroom wall. The incident was reported to the Winnipeg Police Service which treated it as a priority. The room was sealed and the Winnipeg Police Service examined the scene.
The Winnipeg Police Service is investigating this message to determine if it is a case of graffiti or a more serious situation. Until 2:30 today, the Winnipeg Police Service had asked us not to comment on the specific nature and details of the message as this information forms part of the police investigation.
We have now been asked by the Winnipeg Police Service to inform the public that the specific elements of the message include a threat of an occurrence on the morning of Weds, Sept. 26. We have been working on enhanced security measures from the moment this message was identified and we will have additional measures in place this week and especially on Sept. 26.
When the threat was brought to the university’s attention, our Security staff conducted a search of all washroom areas to determine if more messages existed and found none. Security staff and physical plant staff were alerted and camera monitoring was increased. (There is no camera monitor in the hall of the washroom in question so no video of this area exists).
The following security measures are now in effect and will continue while the investigation is underway:
- The Winnipeg Police Service has increased its presence on campus and there will be increased security measures;
- We are working closely with the Winnipeg Police Service and the provincial government to do a full risk assessment and ensure appropriate security measures are in place;
- University faculty, staff and students are asked to be vigilant and report any specific knowledge of this incident to our Security Office immediately;
- Everyone is encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious behaviour to the Security Office;
- A Security Office hotline (786-9235) is being staffed on a 24 hour basis;
- A phone TIP line will be operational shortly (258-2930);
- An e-mail TIP line has been established: tips@uwinnipeg.ca;
- The University’s Personal Safety Guide, which was distributed widely at the commencement of the school year, provides a thorough overview of safety tips and security services and what to do in an emergency situation;
- The University’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is working with relevant authorities to implement an operational plan.
On July 23rd, the University announced a series of new initiatives that reflect the institution’s pro-active approach to campus safety including:
- The SALTO Access Control system that is being phased in on campus, a state-of-the-art electronic locking system;
- Developing an in-house security team;
- This complements existing initiatives such as:
- Safe Ride and Safe Walk Programs
- Community Ambassador Services Program
- Safety presentations at Campus Orientation sessions
- Safety talks on Parent’s nights
The University is disseminating regular information updates to our community and has taken the following steps to establish ongoing communication with those on our campus:
- Senior managers have been phoning their staff;
- E-mail messages have gone to a wide distribution of faculty, staff and students;
- The University has notified its union leadership and the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association who have in turn been disseminating the information through their networks;
- Information was e-mailed to 7,655 student e-mail accounts;
- Faculty and staff have been very helpful in ensuring the community is aware of the situation and aware of the information available at this time.
- While we have used every available avenue to disseminate this information, including email, handouts, media, faculty and staff, UWSA and other unions and everyone is asked to do their part to widely share this information.
- Counseling is available on campus for students, faculty and staff:
- Student counseling can be accessed by calling 786-9231;
- Faculty counseling is available at 786-9022;
- Staff and Faculty counseling is available through the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765
While this may be graffiti, The University is treating this message seriously, is taking the responsible approach by disclosing it to the community, and has increased its security measures.
The University will share further information with the community as soon as it becomes available.
Updates will be provided via email and will be available on the University’s web site’s homepage www.uwinnipeg.ca
The University has briefed the provincial government and the Mayor’s office and is working in close cooperation with them. Classes and University business are continuing as scheduled.
Much like airports have had to change their security measures due to changing times, so do universities. And universities, like airports and other public institutions must still continue to function.
I want to reassure faculty, staff, students, their parents and families that the University of Winnipeg has taken the necessary precautions to ensure this is a secure campus. The actions we have taken over the last 24 hours have been taken to ensure the continued safety of all those who come to our campus.
I wish to thank the Winnipeg Police Service, the Mayor’s Office and the Province of Manitoba for their prompt reaction and their support to The University of Winnipeg. I also want to thank the University community for its calm and professional response.”
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Located in the heart of downtown, The University of Winnipeg is a compact, diverse, multi-cultural academic community committed to access and excellence. Home to more than 9,200 full- and part-time students, UWinnipeg has been ranked by our graduates in the Top-10 of all Canadian universities when asked about their “Entire Educational Experience” (MacLean’s Graduate Survey, June 2006). The Globe & Mail Report Card 2006 gives the University of Winnipeg an overall “A” grade in the areas of quality of education, teaching quality, class sizes, faculty-student interaction and the availability of faculty outside of classroom hours. Find out why. Visit www.uwinnipeg.ca.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dan Hurley, Executive Director, External Affairs, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9027, C: 204.290.4525, E: d.hurley@uwinnipeg.ca
Ilana Simon, Communications Officer, University of Winnipeg
P: 204.786.9930, C: 204.782.3279, E: i.simon@uwinnipeg.ca
