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The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is kicking off several safety initiatives for the 2019 fall semester.

University police will run a Red Zone initiative and a pedestrian and traffic safety initiative for the fall semester.

The Red Zone initiative will start Friday, Aug. 30, and continue through Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 18-19). The pedestrian and traffic initiative will begin Tuesday, Sept. 3, and run through the end of the fall semester.

Red Zone

The “red zone” is shorthand for the time at the beginning of the school year when a disproportionate number of campus sexual assaults take place.

The Department of Justice has identified the period between students’ arrival on campus in late August and Thanksgiving break as the stretch of time when students are more likely to be assaulted than at any other point in their college careers. During that time, the majority of assaults occur between midnight and 6 a.m., on Saturdays.

The Red Zone initiative includes:

  • Increased presence in known areas of vulnerability on and near campus.
  • Strict enforcement of any alcohol violations.
  • Required next day follow-ups by police with anyone who was incapacitated by alcohol. The follow-up provides education to the community member, the citation and an initiative card.
  • Encouraged next day follow-up for any students who received underage drinking citations. Next day follow-up gives students a better understanding of the consequences of their actions versus having such discussions when they’re still impaired.
  • Mandatory social contacts with students who appear to engage in unwanted or illegal behaviors.
  • Increased attendance at Coffee With a Cop and the Oshkosh Police Department shift briefings to increase collaboration and area awareness.

Pedestrian and Traffic

The pedestrian and traffic initiative, which was first implemented in February 2019, is aimed at creating a culture of respect between pedestrians and drivers. Pedestrians make up one of the most at-risk groups of roadway users, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Similar to last spring’s initiative, University police will work to educate the campus community about laws related to control signals, crossing at intersections or crosswalks and crossing streets in areas other than crosswalks.

  • Titan Safety tokens will be given to those observed doing the right thing on campus. Those who collect three tokens will be able to turn them in at the UWO Police Department for a T-shirt.
  • Violations of Wisconsin crosswalk laws start at $150 and can rise to more than $200. On first violation, UW Oshkosh police will issue warnings and educational information cards.
  • Drivers stopped for violations will be issued information cards that explain the right-of-way, controlled intersection, crosswalks and uncontrolled intersections. The cards also will alist forfeiture “fine” amounts.

University police suggest community members—both vehicle operators and pedestrians—pay particular attention to crosswalk signage, especially along High Avenue and Algoma Boulevard, which are the two main thoroughfares traveled between downtown and the highway. Both are two-lane, one-way high-traffic streets with multiple pedestrian crossing paths.

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