OSU-Cascades Safety Crew Works 24 Hours a Day After Three Incidents in Seven Days
University leadership extended security coverage to every hour of the week following two assaults in housing and a shooting at a nearby elementary school.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Security staff at Oregon State University's Cascades campus in Bend now work around the clock, a change implemented to address student anxiety following a wave of local violence. The university expanded these hours in direct response to two reported sexual assaults in its residential facility and a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, which sits a few miles from the main campus.
The two assaults occurred on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 in the campus's only residential hall. University officials noted in a letter to students that the victim in the reported incidents did not know the assailant. Both cases remain under investigation. A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary added to the tension in the Bend community during the same period.
Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, presented the student perspective to the OSU Board of Trustees during their Friday meeting. He highlighted the rapid succession of events, stating, "These three distinct events happened within seven days of each other and have students concerned for their physical, sexual and emotional safety," Woekel said.
Student leaders are now pushing for a wider review of emergency procedures, specifically protocols for active shooter situations. They also want to ensure that all members of the community are aware of available resources for preventing and responding to sexual violence. This push coincides with increased national attention on campus safety, including recent reports from the University of Oregon in Eugene and ongoing discussions regarding a case at Cornell University.
The disruption affected academic operations significantly. OSU-Cascades closed on the Friday following the shooting and reopened for classes at the start of the current week. In contrast, Silver Rail Elementary remains closed indefinitely, and Bend-La Pine Schools kept students home for the duration. To support the community, student employees at the campus Makerspace lab constructed an engraved memorial shrine, and letter-writing stations were set up for messages of support to the school's parent-teacher organization.
Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard addressed the student body after the assault reports. "Creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility," she wrote. "We are a close-knit campus, and I encourage you to look out for and support one another." Her message included specific lists of confidential and non-confidential resources for those affected by sexual violence.
Board of Trustees Chair Karla Chambers also responded to Woekel's remarks. "I want you to know that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community," Chambers said. "We know the hurt and healing will take a substantial amount of time, but that community is certainly in our thoughts." Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center have launched confidential drop-in sessions for anyone on campus, regardless of whether they were directly impacted by the events.
