CMU Take Care program discourages bystander mentality in students, staff
Both the Central Michigan Police Department and the Office of Student Affairs agree the safest campus is the
campus where students look out for one another.
The Take Care program, an initiative born out of tragedy, has been introduced to new incoming students at CMU every year since 2005 asking students to take care, be aware and do the right thing.
In June 2004 26-year-old DeMarcus Graham was beaten to death in downtown Mount Pleasant by a mob after an argument at the Shaboom Pub Club.
Dozens of people watched and did nothing.
Encouraging students to speak up, do something when they see something wrong and look out for their fellow classmates, the Office of Student Affairs organized the Take Care program to help prevent tragedies before they start.
“People are in a much better position to keep themselves safe than for us to get involved because a lot of the time we show up after something bad has happened,” said CMU Police Chief William Yeagley.
Posters are hung around campus and in residence halls. Residence hall advisers and student who go through Leadership Safari are introduced to the program before the semester so word can spread.
“Every year we get a new crop of people who don’t know about the program, so it can be hard to keep people aware of it,” said Tony Voisin, assistant vice president of student affairs. “Every year, there is an incident that could have been prevented if someone would have said something.”
Take Care is an umbrella program that asks students to look out for themselves and the students around them for not just for safety, but for the mental well-being.
“We want everyone, students professors and staff to speak up when they see something concerning,” Voisin said. “If they see something immediately distressing, call 911. If they see something concerning about a student or staff member, call our Care Line.”
The Care Line, 989-774-CARE (or 2273), is a special voice mail where anyone can leave messages, anonymously if they wish, addressing concerns about students and staff which are directed toward the Care Team.
The team is a small group of CMU staff, such as representatives from Residence Life, CMUPD, the Counseling Center and Sexual Aggression Services, who meet weekly to go over concerns left in the voice mail.
Reporting someone to CMU Cares is not meant to be a way to snitch on bad behavior Voisin said, but as a way to address concerns that perhaps the individual may be uncomfortable seeking help for.
“Every time we have contacted a student who was brought up by a call on the line has not been surprised by us. They know when something is going on,” Voisin said.
CMU students and staff may report any concern they have on the Care Line or online at cmich.edu/cmucares
