Trigger Warning: this article includes discussion of sexual assault, gun violence, and hazing.

Last year, MU fielded a variety of safety issues from COVID-19 to off-campus incidents of violence. As new and returning students begin the 2022-23 school year, many may have questions about their own safety on and off campus. Below are some updates on campus safety and reminders on how to stay safe. 

COVID-19, monkeypox and campus health

Due to fewer COVID-19 cases, increased availability of vaccines and tests, and guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MU President Mun Choi suspended all COVID-19 restrictions and regulations for students and faculty, including the mask mandate, on May 13, 2022. 

Additionally, MU no longer tracks COVID-19 cases on campus. Archived data can be found here. 

MU does not require vaccines for students and faculty, but per CDC guidelines, the university “recommends” people remain up to date with their vaccinations. The MU Student Health Center still provides the vaccine via appointment. 

Monkeypox has begun to spread across the world, with the CDC reporting more than 7,500 confirmed cases across the United States on Aug. 6. As of Aug. 4, 14 cases of the disease have been found in Missouri. 

According to the CDC, monkeypox can spread in a variety of ways — most prominently through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone with the virus. This can include direct contact with monkeypox scabs or fluids on the skin, touching objects or fabrics used by someone with monkeypox and intimate contact with someone infected with the virus. Monkeypox can impact anyone regardless of sexual orientiation. 

The best way to prevent monkeypox infection is through washing your hands and avoiding close contact with those infected. Because vaccine availability is still limited and Missouri’s case rate is low, vaccinations are limited to those who have already been exposed to the virus. Pre-exposure vaccinations are not available at this time. 

On- and off-campus safety

Last year, multiple shootings off campus created a sense of alarm surrounding campus safety. Chief among them were concerns regarding the MU Alert system — the university’s emergency alert system. The system, which is effective in alerting students in cases of emergency that occur on campus, did not alert students when violence or emergency situations occur off campus. In January 2022, students were left uninformed following a shooting outside Silverball, a bar popular among students. In this year’s Missouri Students Association elections, then-candidates Molly Miller and Josiah Mendoza pledged to improve communications between MU and MU Police, as well as the Columbia Police Department. During the campaign, both proposed a new system, saying, “something that we’re looking at as part of our policy platform points is how we can make a safety app where information can be more readily available directly from the university and from MUPD.” 

For information on how to sign up for MU Alerts, read the “How to stay safe on campus” section.

Safety in Greek Life

The 2021-22 school year proved a tumultuous one for MU Greek Life. Following a near-fatal hazing incident at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house on campus that left a freshman student, Daniel Santulli, unable to communicate in any way, according to the family’s attorney, David Bianchi. Following the incident, MU withdrew recognition of the fraternity from campus and announced sanctions against 13 fraternity members. It is currently unknown whether these sanctions affected these members’ enrollment status. 

MU has not announced any formal changes in Greek Life proceedings for the 2022-23 school year.

How to stay safe on campus

MU offers many resources to help students stay safe and there are additional measures you can take for additional safety.

The MU Police Department hosts multiple self-defense classes, including some specifically for women, covering a range of topics from rape defense to aeresol and keychain defense. MUPD also hosts classes specifically for men, car care workshops, non-gender-specific classes and training sessions covering active shooter situations. You can find specific information about each class and scheduling on the MUPD website. 

Additionally, there are personal safety measures you can take on a day-to-day basis. Here are a few tips:

• Carry pepper spray or a self-defense keychain. 
• Buy a personal safety alarm. You can attach this to your keys or carry it in your bag.
• Share your location with your roommate and friends. Make sure this is always on, especially when walking home late at night. 
• Sign up for MU Alerts. Students can sign up here.
• Save all necessary MU safety numbers:
  • MU Stripes: 573-442-9672
    • Use MU Stripes whenever you feel it is unsafe to drive home. This includes if you are intoxicated, just got off a late shift or just need a ride. 
  • MUPD*: (573) 882-7201
    • You can also request security escorts to your location by calling this number.
  • Columbia Police Department*: (573) 874-7652

* In case of an emergency, always call 911. 

Additional safety tips can be found via the MUPD website.