Area residents and students can learn about safety on and off campus from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, on Sanford Mall at Appalachian State University during the second annual “Safety@appstate” event.

This year’s theme is “It’s Up to Me,” which reflects an individual’s responsibility for making campus and community a safe environment, as well as the responsibility to speak out when they witness unsafe behavior of others.

Students will be encouraged to identify at least three actions they can take to be safer at home, at school or in the community; practice one new safety behavior; and learn about safety information resources on campus and in the community.

The event features representatives from campus, town and county agencies who will provide information about fire, food, bike, animal, Internet and personal safety, along with other topics. Just look for the tents set up on Sanford Mall.

In case of severe weather, the event will be canceled.

“Safety@appstate” is organized by the university’s Safety Day Planning Committee.

Students can win prizes donated by area businesses and campus organizations by completing a “Yosef/Bingo” card that can be validated by visiting the information tents on Sanford Mall.

Prizes include an iPod product, T-shirts, a gift basket, National Weather Service rain gauge and food coupons.

In addition, the following special programs or activities will occur in conjunction with the activities on Sanford Mall:

 

Tuesday, Sept. 4

• “Why Walk?  A Survivor’s Story” — a film and discussion about two abductions in 1989 that led to establishing the university’s annual Walk for Awareness, Blue Ridge Ballroom in Plemmons Student Union, 8 to 9 p.m.

• Walk for Awareness  — a silent walk through campus beginning at 9 p.m. honoring victims and survivors of violence. The walk begins on Sanford Mall and ends at Duck Pond Field. The keynote speakers are students, Provost Lori Gonzalez and Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 5

• 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., “Safety@appstate,” Sanford Mall. The following programs, offices or agencies will have information tables on Sanford Mall: Appalachian Regional Health; AppState Alert; AppsCares Suicide Prevention and Counseling and Psychological Services Center; Appalachian State University Police; Boone Fire Department; Counseling and Psychological Services Center;  Daymark Recovery Services (mental health and substance abuse services); Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management; Food Services; Information Technology Services; National Weather Service; OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Service, Information Shelter); Parking and Traffic and Safe Ride; Sexual Assault Prevention; Student Conduct Office; Student Health Service; University Housing; University Recreation; WASU; and the Watauga County Humane Society.

• A campuswide test of the university’s emergency siren, voice and text messaging system will be conducted at 11:55 a.m.

• There will also be an Apps Cares Suicide Prevention Training from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Price Lake Room of Plemmons Student Union.

The program is titled “Ask a Question, Save a Life: A Training on How to Talk about Suicide and Respond to Students Who Exhibit Signs of Distress.”