The University of Idaho kicks off its annual Campus Safety Week with a Relationships and Safety Resource Fair at 11 a.m. Monday, September 15 at the Commons Plaza.
Organized by Vandal Health Education and its community and campus partners, the Relationships and Safety Fair is a new addi- tion to Safety Week. This year’s Katy Benoit Safety Forum and Campus Safety Week features the “I Got Your Back” campaign, which is exemplified through the new addition of the fair.
“A lot of people say ‘I Got Your Back,'” said Emily Tuschhoff, the Vandal Health Education coordinator. “But what does that mean? Safety Week and the Relation- ships and Safety Resource Fair are focused on getting resources to students so that they know how to handle those situations.”
Both campus and community vendors will be at the Relationships and Safety Resource Fair promoting their specific services that are available to students. Students and staff from Vandal Health Education, the Violence Prevention Program, the Counseling and Testing Center, Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, the Women’s Center, Campus Security and other partners will be offering information and resources for many health and safety concerns.
Morgan Trewin, an intern at Vandal Health, said the mission of Safety Week — and the resources offered through it — aim to help students be safe in all aspects of life.
“Vandal Health and our partners on campus are always willing to offer information and help students in any way we can,” Trewin said.
Tuschhoff said the Relationships and Safety Resource Fair is a great opportunity to make connections with members of the campus community that believe healthy relationships are a main component of an en- joyable college experience. She said the fair would promote community resources aimed at building and maintaining healthy relationships in their personal lives.
“We want to help students know how to be safe,” Tuschhoff said. “Whether they have personal concerns or problems or if they are concerned about a friend, there are resourc- es and people available to help them.”
Vandal Health Education encourages students with health and safety concerns to take advantage of programs to better connect students to the resources they need.
Tuschhoff said Vandal Health Education is involved in a wide array of initiatives pro- moting safe and healthy lifestyles — including supporting the Tobacco Taskforce, an on-campus group pushing for a tobacco ban to be implemented in fall 2015.
Vandal Health Education and its on-campus partners will be prevalent throughout Safety Week, as they work to create a safer and healthier environment for UI students and their friends, partners and family.
“The Relationships and Safety Resource Fair is basically to kick off Safety Week and raise students’ awareness on what help is available to them,” Tuschhoff said. “It’s a week and event with a positive message.”
Cara Pantone can be reached at [email protected]