Campus Security

Campus Information

Department of Campus Safety

Mission Statement

The Department of Campus Safety is a diversified organization that provides professional security services to its students, faculty and Administrators. The Campus Safety Team is a proactive, service-oriented agency trained to respond to the needs of the University. The Department is staffed and equipped to deliver personalized protection with pride, sensitivity and integrity.

Campus Safety Leadership

Our campus safety leaders are here for you. They can be contacted as follows:

• Michael G. Petricca, Director
  Phone: 415-618-3885
  Email: info@academyart.edu
• Fitzgerald Bridges, Associate Director
  Email: info@academyart.edu
• Vandy  Phillips, Patrol Supervisor
  Email: vphillips@academyart.edu
• Securitas, Inc.: Securitas is  equipped to provide security services to the Academy of Art University. For  more information, please visit their corporate Web site http://www.securitasgroup.com.

Campus Safety Newsletter

Hear from the Director of Campus Safety and find out about what's going on on campus.

• Issue 1
• Issue 2

For More Information

If you would like more information about how to stay safe on campus or around town, please review the Academy's Emergency Brochure. The best way to stay safe is to be prepared!

Campus Host Program

The Academy of Art University supplies each building with campus hosts, who act as a liason between the public and security. Campus Hosts provide the following services:

• Welcoming guests to and describing the building in which they work
• Limiting access to buildings to students and invited guests
• Providing answers to common questions regarding the Academy
• Calling security, 911, the police, or fire departments when necessary
• Describing the neighborhood and campus buildings in order to direct students to Academy properties and also locations of importance (e.g., post office, banks, bus lines, etc.)
• Providing Academy brochures and collateral to parents, guests, and students
• Describing emergency standard operating procedures and disaster recovery plans
• Conveying information about the Academy's private campus buses

Building Officers and Floor Wardens

Reporting Crimes and Emergencies

The Campus Safety Team is located in 180 New Montgomery, Room B-83. Security operations are provided twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Safety Officers respond to all reports of accidents, crimes, suspicious persons, hazards, and other emergencies.

Victims and witnesses of crimes are encouraged to report campus incidents to Campus Safety by calling:

• Security Office (Open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm; Phone: 415-618-3897)
• Security Supervisor on Duty (Phone: 415-618-3895)
• San Francisco Emergency Services (Can by summoned by calling 9-1-1)

Assistance can also be summoned by using any of the direct-dial emergency phones located in and around campus buildings. These phones are red and have appropriate signage.

Reporting Crimes is Important

By reporting crimes and suspicious circumstances directly to the Department of Campus Safety, the crime or suspicious circumstance will be included in the Annual Security Report, and the Department of Campus Safety will be able to issue timely and appropriate Warning Bulletins. When reporting a crime or suspicious circumstance, you need not state your name or the name of victims, witnesses, etc.

Warning Bulletins

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, which (in the judgment of the Director of Campus Safety) constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide "timely warning" will be issued. The warning will be issued through the college email system to students, faculty, and staff.

Lost & Found

The Department of Campus Safety recovers various items that are lost or stolen. The Lost and Found Office is located at 180 New Montgomery Room B-83 and is open from 8am to 5pm.

Crime Prevention Tips

Following these tips will help you stay safe when you're out and about:

• Carry your bag close to you with the clasp facing inwards. Carry your house keys in your pocket. If someone grabs your bag, let it go. If you hang on, you could get hurt. Remember that your safety is more important than your property.
• If you think someone is following you, check by crossing the street — more than once if necessary — to see if the person follows. If you are still worried, get to the nearest place where there are other people and call the police/security.
• If you regularly go jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time. Stick to well-lit roads with pavement. On commons and parklands, keep to main paths and open spaces where you can see and be seen by other people — avoid wooded areas. If you wear a personal stereo, remember that you can't hear traffic or somebody approaching from behind.
• Don't take short-cuts through dark alleys, parks, or across waste ground. Walk facing the traffic so a car cannot pull up behind you unnoticed.
• If a car stops and you are threatened, scream and shout. Get away as quickly as you can. This will gain you vital seconds and make it more difficult for the car's driver to follow. If you can, make a mental note of the number and description of the car. Once you are safe, write down any details as soon as possible.
• Don't hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.
• Cover up expensive-looking jewelry.

If the Worst Happens...

Think about what you would do if someone attacked you. Could you fight back, or would you avoid resisting and wait to escape? Only you can decide whether to fight back, but preparing yourself for all possibilities could provide a split-second advantage:

• If someone threatens you, shout and scream for help.
• Get to safety.
• You have every right to defend yourself with reasonable force with items that you have with you. Items such as an umbrella, hairspray, or keys can be used against an attacker. However, the law doesn't allow civilians to carry anything that could be described as an offensive weapon.

If You Have Been Attacked...

Assaults and rapes are serious crimes, whether committed by a stranger or someone you know. If you are someone you know is attacked:

• Call security: we need your help to catch the attacker. You can help the security team by:
• • Taking the name or address of any witness.
  • Trying to remember exactly what the attacker looked like.
  • If a car was involved, try to note the color, model, and license plate number.
• You do not need to go to the police station to report an assault. You can be interviewed in your own home if you wish. These crimes are dealt with sympathetically, regardless of gender. Police stations have specially trained officers who will help and support you, and many areas have comfortable victim suites separate from the police station where you can be interviewed privately.

Campus Security Report

Please click here to download the 2007-2008 Campus Security Report (pdf format).