UC Berkeley Press Release
Resources and tips for staying safe on campus
Getting around safely at night
'Walk Like a Bear'
Uniformed, trained, and radio-equipped Community Service Officers (CSOs) provide a walking escort to nearby residences, public transportation, or parking lots. The service is available from dusk to 1:45 a.m. To request an escort, call 642-WALK (642-9255); a CSO will arrive in 15 minutes.
Night Safety Shuttles (Bear Transit)
Free nighttime shuttles to and from the campus operate on four specified routes and include a "to-your-door" service from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., with the late-night, door-to-door Owl Line available from 2 to 5:45 a.m. Routes (PDF) run from points on campus to BART, Clark Kerr Campus, and residence halls, and schedules, service dates, and service-area boundaries are online.
To-your-door service: Shuttles on these routes stop at all shuttle stops, then continue on to drop passengers almost anywhere within service-area boundaries.
Late-night Owl Line: UCPD offers door-to-door transportation by van on and near campus from 2 to 5:45 a.m., 365 days a year. Call 642-WALK (642-9255) at least 15 minutes ahead to request pick-up and drop-off within service-area boundaries.
Night Safety Map (PDF)
The Night Safety Map recommends well-lit, well-traveled walking routes on the campus, as well as showing the night shuttle bus routes. Plan a route for safety and walk with friends or a group whenever possible.
Campus safety tips
By phone: Cal-B-SAFE
The Cal-B-SAFE line offers recorded information about safety programs 24 hours a day. Call 64B-SAFE (642-7233) and choose to hear about night escorts, shuttles, self-defense classes, personal safety presentations, and more.
Safety guidelines from UCPD
Campus police offer guidelines for crime prevention — from nighttime personal safety, to theft prevention and vehicle security. Have a specific situation you'd like addressed by a law enforcement professional? E-mail UCPD.
Safety Counts booklet, 2007-08
Published annually and distributed to all students, staff, and faculty,Safety Counts is UCPD's definitive resource for safety and crime prevention information.
Put down that iPod and listen up!
Safety tips for students from UC Police Chief Victoria Harrison.
Receiving UCPD crime alerts
Alerts delivered to your computer desktop (ST&AR)
Download ST&AR (Safety, Threats, and Alerts Report), a computer program that brings you up-to-the-minute alerts and information about crimes or major emergencies on campus. Create filters and customize reports to get the alerts you really need.
Incident reports by e-mail
Subscribe to receive crime alerts and advisories by e-mail from UCPD. Incidents that occur on the Berkeley campus and immediate vicinity are reported by UCPD's Crime Prevention Unit.
Alerts and advisories on the Web
A chronological listing of crimes reported to UCPD is online, including dates, times, places, and the status of police investigations.
Reporting a crime in progress
Call 911 or, from a cell phone, 642-3333
In the event of an emergency, call 911 from anywhere on campus, or from a cell phone call 642-3333. Program these numbers into your phone for a direct line to UCPD if you are in trouble, or see someone else in trouble. For non-emergencies or information, call UCPD at 642-6760.
Counseling and substance abuse
Party Safe @ Cal
Most students do party safely at Cal, but this campus program helps educate students to be safe, responsible, and reduce the dangers associated with drinking.
Alcohol and Drug Use: Counseling and Services
The Tang Center — home of University Health Services — offers counseling and education to promote safe and healthy behaviors to avoid the harm that can come from high-risk drinking and drug use.
Counseling at the Tang Center
A wide range of campus counseling programs helps students in crisis or with personal, academic, career, or health-related concerns.
Stress and anxiety services
No matter what the cause, when stress and anxiety become a problem, counselors at the Tang Center can help.
Coping with tragedy and trauma
When tragedies happen, even people who haven't directly experienced a loss may find themselves shocked, scared, or traumatized. Most people will experience some emotional and/or physical after-effects, and support services are available at the Tang Center.
Emergency preparedness
WarnMe emergency alert service
WarnMe is UC Berkeley's alerting and warning service for students, staff, and faculty. It is activated to contact you when there is an immediate threat to safety or health affecting the campus community. WarnMe can alert you by phone, text message, or e-mail — you choose the best ways to reach you. But you must sign up to receive emergency alerts. Register your emergency contacts at warnme.berkeley.edu.
Resources, response, and warning systems
UC Berkeley's Office of Emergency Preparedness offers tips and services for preparing for disaster or emergencies, plus a warning system and protocol should disaster strike.
Campus information in an emergency
The campus home page is your first stop for emergency information; if the home page isn't available, go to the campus campus emergency website. News and instructions will also be updated regularly on an emergency hotline, 800/705-9998, and on radio broadcasts in the Bay Area from KALX 90.7FM or KCBS 740AM.
Information for Cal Parents
Cal Parents website
A comprehensive site for parents and families of UC Berkeley students, including a section on campus resources for safety, health, and emergency preparedness.
Safety Comes First
From the fall 2007 edition of Letter Home, a collection of stories and tips on campus safety and the role of UCPD.