Creating a Safe Environment | Department of Sociology

Your Safety is Our Priority

If you see something, say something: report suspicious behavior on our Columbus campus to University Police at 614-292-2121 or off-campus to Columbus Police at 614-645-4545. Of course, always dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Follow Ohio State's Department of Public Safety on Twitter for safety or emergency information at @OSUPolice and @OSU_EMFP.

Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP)

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) in collaboration with University Public Safety has developed a Building Emergency Action Plan (BEAP) to assist with emergency responses in Townshend Hall. This plan is managed and coordinated through the Office of Public Safety, Emergency Management and Fire Prevention with the assistance of Environmental Health and Safety. The BEAP correlates with the larger Ohio State University Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) for campus operations during large scale or campus-wide emergencies and departmental specific business continuity plans for departmental operations during departmental or campus emergencies.

Disruptive & Distressed Individuals

The Office of Academic Affairs with Ohio State’s Counseling and Consultation Service and Employee Assistance Program have developed the “Guide to Assist Disruptive or Distressed Individuals” to help you assist anyone in the university community experiencing distress or causing a disruption. You can find it on their website. Ensuring a safe environment for students, faculty and visitors to our campuses is one of our highest priorities.

Additional coaching and training opportunities are available:

At Risk, an online simulation training for helping students in distress. Contact: University Center for the Advancement of Teaching, 292-3644.
Dealing with Disruptive/Distressed Individuals workshop. Contact Micky Sharma, Office of Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service.
REACH, a one-hour suicide prevention workshop for students, faculty and staff.

Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service

Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service has developed a new phone app, OSUCCS, which provides simple techniques to relieve anxiety, help de-stress and promote wellness. OSUCCS also connects students, faculty and staff to other resources and a one-click calling feature to contact CCS right away. Download OSUCCS from your app store. Compatible with iPhone and Android.

-- > Read more: itunes.apple.com

Please sign up for the university Buckeye Emergency Alert system by going to Employee Self-Service.

LifeLine Response

A safety app for smartphones available free-of-charge to Buckeye students.

Student Advocacy

The Student Advocacy Center is committed to helping students navigate Ohio State's structure and to resolving issues that they encounter at the university. Their purpose is to empower students to overcome obstacles to their growth both inside and outside the classroom. They encourage students to maximize their educational experience and prepare them for involvement in the larger community and for life beyond college.

The Employee Assistance Program

The Ohio State Employee Assistance Program - Ohio State is committed to being a healthy workplace, which includes benefit offerings to help faculty and staff manage life’s challenges. Faculty and staff have access to the Ohio State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers tools and resources to help address complex issues that can be affecting your mental and emotional well-being. EAP services are also available to benefits-eligible faculty and staff’s immediate families, members of their household and parents and parents-in-law.

Share the Road

With more than 100,000 students, faculty, staff and visitors on campus each day, we all need to look out for our fellow Buckeyes while walking, biking and driving. We encourage everyone to Share the Road and keep traffic safety in mind while traveling. Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks and sidewalks. Eliminate distracted behaviors by removing cell phone earbuds and being aware of your surroundings. Motorists should keep an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Please utilize transportation services such as the Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) or our Student Safety Service Safe Ride program, which operates from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on our Columbus campus.

Some CABS routes and service times have changed — including the MC Express, Campus Loop North and Campus Loop South. Find the bus service that best fits your needs and download the Ohio State Mobile app for real-time CABS bus tracking.

Our Student Safety Service officers provide free rides on the Columbus campus, by appointment, at 614-292-3322. If you choose to use a non-university affiliated ride-share program, please remember the following tips:

Follow the ride-share vehicle on GPS
When the car arrives, visually confirm vehicle information likely provided through the companies mobile app before approaching
Do not ride in the front seat or share your cell phone information
If you feel unsafe, or that something is not right, leave the area and contact authorities
Pedestrian Safety Maps