\n\tBy STAFF COUNCIL<\/p>\n
\n\tThe safety of Pitt\u2019s campus is not just the responsibility of facilities, Pitt Police, or Environmental Health and Safety. It is a responsibility shared by everyone in Oakland, including our students, staff and faculty.\u00a0 It is a shared responsibility that we all must take an active effort in assessing and addressing.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe University of Pittsburgh Staff Council has taken on that obligation by spearheading an annual Campus Safety Crawl. The Safety Crawl has been an opportunity for Staff Council members to collectively walk through Oakland as a group and identify concerns, questions or safety hazards that they feel should be addressed.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe crawls had been an annual event, but, as with many things during the pandemic, they fell off and have not happened since 2019. This year, on May 5, Staff Council, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Police, is bringing back the tradition with a different perspective than in the past.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tPast crawls have divided groups of interested Staff Council members to take various routes through Oakland and note concerns they see. Be it a crosswalk with deteriorated markings, an accessibility issue, lighting needs, a missing or damaged sign or other safety concern, the goal is to see the issues, make a list and work with other departments to have them addressed.<\/p>\n
\n\tThat seems like a straightforward effort, but Oakland has many competing groups that make changes difficult. The University does not have the ability to unilaterally make changes in all cases. Some changes are the responsibility of the city of Pittsburgh, others are the responsibility of the utility companies. Still other changes, especially in Oakland, are the responsibility of construction companies and Pittsburgh Regional Transit.<\/p>\n
\n\tThis year, the Safety Crawl will directly involve participants and various stakeholders from key University departments. These groups include Environmental Health Safety; Planning, Development and Construction; Mobility; and Community Affairs, as well as Student Government Board and Graduate Student Government Board representatives.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe goal is that by having these differing groups participate and look at Oakland with their unique perspective, it will allow for direct, immediate feedback regarding concerns, and provide an opportunity to identify problems that Staff Council members alone may not see.\u00a0 We all interact with Oakland in different ways, so we should look at safety in a more holistic way and have a shared investment in improving the safety of our community.<\/p>\n
\n\tIt is Staff Council\u2019s\u00a0intention that\u00a0this new way,\u00a0a\u00a0multi-stakeholder\u00a0engaged way\u00a0of\u00a0conducting the\u00a0Campus Safety Crawl,\u00a0will\u00a0identify\u00a0concerns and that we can get the support to\u00a0address\u00a0necessary changes.\u00a0We are confident, with the group of people involved, that we can achieve that goal and make Oakland a safer place for us all.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile sign-ups for the crawl on May 5 are now closed, there are already plans in the works to have another crawl in the fall and to return to holding them regularly throughout the year. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tIn the meantime, if you happen to see something on your way through Oakland, you can do your own \u201cvirtual\u201d crawl and submit a concern to the Staff Council Virtual Safety Crawl website.<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tStaff Council serves as a center for input and dissemination of information, provides a means of communication between staff and other members of the Pitt community, and provides opportunities for professional development.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tStaff Council has historically represented the interests of Pitt staff not covered under a collective bargaining agreement and continues to participate in shared governance on campus to advocate for the interests of staff members on issues not addressed by collective bargaining. Additionally, the Council continues its mission to advocate for unrepresented staff members.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tStay informed with the Staff Council Newsletter: View past issues and subscribe<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tStay connected:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tInstagram: @upstaffcouncil\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tFacebook: @upstaffcouncil\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tLinkedIn: Pitt Staff Council\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n