Bend Campus Students Demand Expanded Safety Protocols

Students at Oregon State University's Cascades campus in Bend, Oregon, are requesting a formal review of emergency procedures following a series of violent incidents over the past week.

Two sexual assaults were reported on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10 in the campus's only residential hall. University officials stated in a letter that the victim did not know the assailant, and investigations into both incidents are ongoing. A third incident, a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School located a few miles from the campus, added to the sense of vulnerability among the student body.

Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, presented these concerns to the OSU Board of Trustees during its Friday meeting. He noted that the three distinct events occurred within seven days of each other. "These three distinct events happened within seven days of each other and have students concerned for their physical, sexual and emotional safety," Woekel said. The timing aligns with increased national attention to campus sexual violence, including reports of five incidents at the University of Oregon's Eugene campus during its first week of classes and ongoing discussions regarding a 2024 case at Cornell University.

In response to the assaults, campus safety hours have been extended to a 24/7 schedule. Student leaders are now urging campus partners to re-examine and expand emergency protocols, specifically those for active shooter situations. They are also working to ensure that students are aware of existing sexual violence prevention and response resources. Woekel noted that despite the distress, the campus community has remained unified in its support for one another.

Operational disruptions followed the shooting. OSU-Cascades closed on the Friday after the incident and reopened for classes at the start of this week. The neighboring Bend-La Pine Schools remained closed, while Silver Rail Elementary is closed indefinitely. Student leaders established letter-writing stations to send messages of support to the school's parent-teacher organization. Additionally, student employees at the campus Makerspace lab constructed an engraved memorial shrine. Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center have opened confidential drop-in sessions for anyone affected, whether directly or indirectly.

Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard addressed the student body in messages following the incidents. "Creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility," she wrote after the assault reports. She encouraged students to look out for one another and provided lists of confidential and non-confidential resources for those affected by sexual violence.

Karla Chambers, the Board of Trustees Chair, acknowledged the emotional impact of the shooting on the OSU community. "I want you to know that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community," Chambers said. She added that the hurt and healing will take a substantial amount of time, but that the community is in the university's thoughts. The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 and the SAMHSA crisis line at 1-800-985-5990 remain available for those seeking confidential support.