CMUPD calls for 'open communication' with students at SGA March 25 meeting
CMU Police Department Lieutenant Cameron Wassman visits SGA senators to discuss how they can make campus a better place in Bovee University Center on Monday, March 25.
Central Michigan University Police Department Lt. Cameron Wassman spoke at the March 25 Student Government Association meeting in hopes of creating an “open communication” between the police department and the student body.
He started his presentation by addressing that the CMUPD is "more than safety" and works closely with the university.
"A lot of times people don't understand what we as the police do," Wassman said. "They see the arrests, they see the enforcement, they see the tickets, but they may not understand all the things we do or why we do what we do."
He updated SGA members on the CMU Police Oversight Committee and the Mount Pleasant City Police Department complaint filing process, which will involve the distribution of flyers with information on the Isabella County Human Rights Committee and the Mount Pleasant Diversity Group, among other resources.
“We want to make sure you have the ability to get answers to questions, so by all means, whether it's the city police or the CMU police, call us," he said.
Wassman also discussed changes currently happening in the department, including personnel changes, continuing the "Food for Fines" program, recruiting three new police officers, improving parking and upgrading the radio and 911 system to better respond to emergencies.
He concluded his presentation by stressing the importance of contacting the police in the event of suspicious activity or a crime.
“We would much rather have something be reported to us, investigated and have it turn out to be something pretty small than to not find out about it and have it spiral out of control into something more serious," Wassman said. "So call us, don't feel silly, don't feel ashamed. Call us, only then can we help make everyone feel safe."
Campus climate survey
SGA Vice President Lyndi Rose spoke about a campus climate survey that will soon be released.
The survey was made by the Title IX committee and focuses on the sexual assault climate on campus. The survey will ask students about their knowledge of available resources and personal experiences.
"(This survey) is very important because all of this raw data has never been calculated before and there's a lot of things we don't know if we need or not, such as a gender-sexuality center," Rose said. "So please take this survey and spread it out to your friends."
The release date of the survey is still in the works, but it is tentatively planned to be released to all students on April 9.
Passing of legislation
During the meeting, three separate pieces of legislation were discussed.
The first focused on an extension of Thanksgiving recess, which “does not properly accommodate student’s transportation needs."
The resolution calls for the university to close for the entirety of Wednesday on Thanksgiving week instead of at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. This would align with the charter bus departure times, which range from 1:00-1:30 p.m., and allow students to conveniently travel home.
The second piece of legislation supported the purchase of uniform tables, stating the single student desks in numerous academic buildings are outdated and uncomfortable to sit in for extended periods of time.
The third was a resolution in support of the "Take Back the Tap" initiative, which has worked toward ending the sales of bottled water on campus. This legislation called for SGA's support and collaboration with the Take Back the Tap movement.
All three resolutions passed in the House and Senate.
