University at Albany: FAQs on 10/20/08 Campus Tragedy

Members of the UAlbany community as well as parents of students have had a number of questions related to the October 20th fatal shooting of UAlbany senior Richard Bailey and two other incidents that occurred that evening. We have compiled answers to some of those questions, listed below:

What is being done to celebrate the life of Richard Bailey?
UAlbany announces scholarship fund to remember senior Richard Bailey. For information visit, http://www.albany.edu/news/release_4630.shtml?source=googlenews.

A Guest Book for Richard Bailey has been set up by Newsday.com as a means to express thoughts, condolences and memories to the family. The Guest Book link is http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=119170380

Services for Richard Bailey were held October 25th – 26th at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Homes Levittown Chapel, 2786 Hempstead Tpke. The funeral mass was held Monday October 27th at St. Bernard R.C. Church and interment at St. Charles Cemetery. Richard’s obituary is posted on the Newsday.com website at http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=119270390 .

A candlelight service to honor the life and memory of Richard Bailey, a senior at the University at Albany, was held on Wednesday evening, October 22 at 7pm at the small fountain in front of the Campus Center.

A memorial service will follow at a later date to be announced.

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How can I express condolences to the Bailey family?
Expressions of sympathy to the Bailey family can be directed to either parents@albany.edu or by mail to The Bailey Family, c/o Holly Barker-Flynn, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222. We will share these expressions of sympathy with the family.

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Where can members of the UAlbany community find support services?
When a tragedy like this happens in our community, we all begin a process of grieving. Even those who did not know Richard Bailey may feel a sense of loss. Situations like this can elicit all kinds of complicated and difficult feelings in addition to sadness, perhaps fear and even anger. One can benefit from talking and sharing reactions either privately with trusted friends, mentors, colleagues, or in confidential counseling; sometimes the sharing is public as when the community gets together to share feelings and reactions in a memorial service.

Professional staff from Student Success will continue to be available to provide support to students.

Students who may need additional support are encouraged to contact:

  • University Counseling Center, 400 Patroon Creek Blvd. 518-442-5800 or consultation@albany.edu
  • Middle Earth Peer Assistance Hotline 518-442-5777 (Mon-Fri noon to midnight weekends 24hours)

Counseling Resources are available to faculty and staff through our EAP Coordinator who can be reached at 518-442-5483

The staff at Chapel House is available to students who want to drop by or who want to make an appointment:

The staff at Chapel House can also make referrals to faith-based counseling services in the community.

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What events have been held around campus to share information and provide support to the community?
A series of “Safety Forums” will be held to address safety concerns by students, faculty and staff. The first of these forums was held on Tuesday, October 21 at 6pm in Campus Center 375. Three additional forums will be held during the following dates and times:

  • Monday, October 27 at 7pm on Alumni Quad Movie Room (Alden Hall)
  • Tuesday, October 28 at 8pm in the Campus Center Assembly Hall (2nd Floor)
  • Thursday, November 6 at 4pm at the Arthur Levitt Room (between Milne and Page Halls)

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What safety measures are being taken following the tragic events of October 20th?
Following the incident University Police in partnership with Albany Police created a video addressing questions surrounding the incident. To view this video go to, http://video.yahoo.com/watch/3805879.

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What are the late-night transportation services that UAlbany provides?
The University at Albany: Monday-Friday shuttle services; www.albany.edu/pmts

  • East Campus - This service runs East on Washington Ave and West on Western Ave. This service runs from 7:10am until 9:20pm.
  • Uptown Campus Loop - This service makes a complete loop on the uptown campus starting at Freedom. This service runs 7:55am until 11:35pm.
  • Shopping Shuttle - This service runs Monday & Thursday evenings beginning at 5:40pm and concludes at 10:00pm.
  • Western Ave - This service runs in conjunction with CDTA every 10 to 12 minutes up and down Western Ave. This service begins at 7am and concludes at 9:20pm.
  • Health and Counseling Center Shuttle – This service runs from the uptown campus to Patroon Creek every ½ hour beginning 8:30am until 5:55pm.

University at Albany Weekend service:

  • Health and Counseling Center Shuttle- Saturday 9:15am-1:55pm (Only Health Center open on Saturday).
  • Uptown Campus Loop – Saturday & Sunday 5:00pm-10:00pm
  • Extra UAlbany weekend service from Collins Circle to downtown - Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:15pm and concluding at 12:15am.

CDTA Service: Students may ride free of charge by presenting SUNY card: www.cdta.org

  • #10 Western Ave-between Downtown Albany & Crossgates (5:30am-11:50pm); weekend service offered 6:31am-11:46pm- this service does not come onto campus.
  • #11 UAlbany Shuttle - Between UAlbany and Downtown Campus- 7:50am-12:27pm; weekend service offered 7:50am-1:42am.
  • #12 Washington Avenue - Between Downtown Albany and Crossgates- 5:55am-11:14pm; weekend service offered 6:05am-12:24am.

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What efforts have been made to improve students' safety?
The safety of our students is the University’s highest priority – both on and off campus. There is no way to ensure we are 100% safe but there are many steps we can and do take to improve our safety as individuals, as a University community and as a part of the greater Capital District community.

There are two different but related elements to increasing the safety of our students – On Campus safety and Off-Campus safety. On campus, the University has the greatest level of direct control. From the implementation of physical security such as peep holes, door locks and swipe cards to active security measures such as police patrols, the Don’t Walk Alone service and the Resident Assistant’s (RAs) building rounds, the University takes a very proactive approach to addressing security by preventing incidents before they occur.

With regard to Off-Campus safety the University’s role is that of a partner with other stakeholders including other area colleges, and the City of Albany Police Department. Programs include:

  • The eighteen-year-old campus-community coalition – the “Committee on University & Community Relations” which has improving safety off campus as one of its primary goals.
  • WhistleWatch safety program; over 32,000 safety whistles/brochures picked up by UAlbany students, faculty and staff as well as long term neighbors in the neighborhoods where college students reside.
  • “Albany Disabled Alert Program” – personal safety alarms for UAlbany students, faculty and staff who cannot use a WhistleWatch whistle.
  • Late night “safety walk & talks” (at least two per academic year/more if warranted) in the midtown area where University officials speak to students and hand out safety tips/mention any recent incidents as “teachable moments.” Additionally, “Door-to-door safety chats” with student tenants on blocks off campus as warranted (at least one at the beginning of the fall semester).
  • Midtown Neighborhood Watch (over two years old) patrols that serve as “eyes and ears” for Albany City Police Department in the midtown area.
  • Three thousand “Off-Campus Student Survival Guides; How to be Safer and a Better Neighbor” in plastic door hanger bags distributed at the beginning of the fall semester door to door – disseminated by UAlbany, and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association and Beverwyck Neighborhood Association.
  • Nearly 8,000 “Off-Campus Guides for On-Campus Students” (includes safety tips) distributed to on-campus UAlbany students at the beginning of the fall semester.

In all cases, however, the most important element in personal safety is the role the individual plays to keep themselves safe. This is the area where the University plays it’s most important role. We are an educational institution and giving our community the information to improve each person’s individual safety is one of our most important educational missions. Through our Open House, Orientation, and on-going University Police and Residential Life programs the University delivers numerous programs on personal safety each year ranging from basic tips regarding how to keep yourself and your property safe to hands-on self defense courses designed to teach our community how to create the opportunity to effectively escape if you ever are attacked.

For a more complete list of the University’s initiatives to create a safe environment on and off campus see the University’s Annual Security Report at: http://police.albany.edu/ASR.htm.

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What safety alert mechanisms are in place at UAlbany?
The University has several communication mechanisms and protocols in place to advise the campus community of both critical incidents and safety-related alerts and notifications.

NY Alert is an emergency messaging service offered through the State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) and the State University of New York (SUNY). The system allows the University at Albany to communicate on matters of CRITICAL EMERGENCIES with all members of the University community who sign up for this service. The system allows e-mail, phone and text messages to be sent automatically to all members of the campus community who have provided their contact information.

Registered students and current Faculty and Staff are eligible to sign up for this service by logging on to MyUAlbany and choosing "SUNY NY Alert Emergency contact Info."

Additionally, in accordance with Federal Clery Guidelines, in the event that a situation arises, either on or off campus, that, in the judgment of the Chief of University Police, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning will be issued through the college e-mail system to students, faculty, staff. Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose an immediate threat to the community and individuals, the University Police Department may also post a notice on its web site at: http://police.albany.edu/ providing the university community with more immediate notification. In such instances, a copy of the notice will be posted in each residence hall and in the Campus Center. Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the University Police Department, by phone (518-442-3131) or in person at the dispatch center within the UPD building.

Finally, the University issues e-mail safety alerts to all students both on and off campus to make them aware of crimes that may not warrant a “timely warning” under Clery but necessitate communicating to the campus community regarding various safety precautions.

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What other safety resources are available?
The University Police are available 24x7 by stopping in, calling 518-442-3131 or dialing 911 from any campus phone both to report any crime or suspicious incident, or to assist with information on how to improve your personal safety. Off-campus you may dial 911 to reach your local police department.

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What communications did the University send out about the crimes?
The University issued four communications to our campus community surrounding the tragic events of October 20th. These included two messages from J. Frank Wiley, Chief of the University Police Department, and two messages from Interim President George Philip. In addition to students, faculty and staff, these messages were shared with parents through the Parents Council.

The messages are as follows: (click link)

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:03am

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:09pm

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:11pm

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 3:35pm

Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 12:44 PM

Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:45 PM

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What data is available regarding the incidence of crime on and around campus?
The University Police Department makes available information regarding all department activity including Crime Reports at: http://police.albany.edu/2ColPage.asp?PageSName=Stats.

In addition the University publishes an Annual Security Report, as required by federal law, that includes basic crime statistics as well as a wealth of information regarding campus safety programs, initiatives and resources (both on campus and off) that community members may find beneficial. The annual Security Report may be found at: http://police.albany.edu/ASR.htm.

For information regarding criminal activity in the City of Albany the Albany Police Department Crime Mapping site may be found at: http://www.albanyny.org/Government/Departments/Police/cmapping.aspx.

For basic information regarding crime rates anywhere in the USA the FBI maintains data at: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/index.html.

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How can parents and family members of current students stay informed?
Parents and family members of UAlbany students are invited to join our Parents Council on-line at www.albany.edu/parents. The Parents Council was established as a means for us to impart timely and pertinent information directly to parents. Holly Barker-Flynn, our Parent Liaison, is your “link” to the University and is always either a phone call (518-442-5875) or email (parents@albany.edu) away.

When you join the Parents Council and provide us with your email address, we will keep you informed of major events and activities on campus. Additionally, in the event of an emergency on campus, we will be able to keep you informed of the steps that the University is taking to address critical issues.

All alerts that are sent to our community are also posted at: http://police.albany.edu/Alert.asp and, as mentioned above, the University police maintain a continuously updated record of campus activity at: http://police.albany.edu/2ColPage.asp?PageSName=Stats.

Message from the Vice President for Student Success - October 23, 2008

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What is being done to improve the safety around Alumni Quad and the Draper Complex?
Both the buildings and grounds of Alumni Quad and the Draper Complex are very safe. UPD maintains patrols by police officers as well as security staff assigned to those areas. Physical security has also been improved through the use of improved locks and the SUNY Card swipe access system.

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What do I do if I am a victim of a crime?
The most important step is to make sure you are safe. If you need to move to a safe location do so or call for assistance to do so. If you need medical attention dial 911.

The University encourages all community members who are victims of crime to report it! The more information we have regarding crime that is committed against our community, on or off campus, the better equipped we are to prevent those crimes from occurring and to arrest those persons who are victimizing our community. If the crime occurred on campus we encourage you to report the incident to the University Police department at 518-442-3131 or 911 from any campus phone. If the crime occurred off-campus we encourage you to report the incident to the appropriate police agency by calling 911. When reporting an incident to an off-campus police department please identify yourself as a UAlbany student.

The University is here to assist all community members who are victims of criminal activity whether you report it to the police or not. Thomas Gebhardt is the University’s Crime Victim Assistance liaison and may be reached at 518-442-3130.

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What do I do if I witness a crime?
Call for medical assistance if needed and call the police. If the police have already been called let them know what you witnessed. The more they know the better able they are to solve an individual crime and prevent that type of crime from occurring going forward.

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How do I get in contact with safety authorities?
In addition to the phone numbers listed below you may also use the anonymous reporting site: http://police.albany.edu/crime_report.htm.

Emergency Contacts:

  • Police or Medical Emergency 911
  • University Police Department (on campus phone) 911
  • From a cell or off campus phone 518-442-3131
  • University Police Non-emergency 518-442-3132
  • 5-Quad Ambulance 911 (on-campus) or 518-442-3131 (24 hours/day)
  • Albany City Police (non-emergency) 518-438-4000
  • Colonie Police (non-emergency) 518-783-2744
  • Guilderland Police 518-356-1501
  • East Greenbush Police 518-479-1212

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What “safety tips” are available to help improve student safety?

  • If you must walk at night, walk in the company of others
  • Keep a cell phone handy to call authorities
  • Be aware of your surroundings
  • Avoid dark places
  • Be aware of places people can hide
  • Walk in the middle of the road if you are walking on a dark, quiet street with no traffic
  • Report any and all suspicious person(s) or activities to the Albany Police Department (911) or the University Police Department (911 or 442-3131)

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