Protecting the Safety of our Maverick Family

The following message was shared with the UNO campus by Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., on Thursday, April 11:

Dear UNO Community,

Last night, our UNO Department of Public Safety issued an alert to campus about a possible attempted kidnapping in Elmwood Park. This follows a warning about a reported assault in the park just a few days earlier.

I am writing to assure you we take this very seriously and to outline what we are doing to protect the safety and well-being of our Maverick family. There are three key points.

First, the UNO Department of Public Safety remains in close contact and coordination with the Omaha Police Department, which is leading both investigations. We have been in direct contact with Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer. Omaha Police and UNO Public Safety share a strong relationship and their ongoing collaboration will be an asset to the investigations. UNO Public Safety officers patrol campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To request an escort to or from campus buildings, call their main desk at 402.554.2648.

Second, effective immediately through May 12, no parking permit will be required to park in the following areas at the following times.

After 1 P.M. each weekday:

• General use stalls in faculty/staff and student surface lots on Dodge Campus and Scott Campus.
• East Garage and West Garage in general use stalls.

All day:

• Pacific Street Garage general use stalls. This garage is connected to Dodge Campus via shuttle service.

Parking will also remain open on weekends. As always, appropriate permits will remain required for reserved, handicap, meter, visitor and special use stalls.

Third, we are doing everything we can to share timely and important safety recommendations with campus. Please review our student safety page to familiarize yourself with our resources and reporting options. Please also make time to view the following Maverick Minute on safety and read the advice that came with our two most recent timely warnings.

• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid parking in isolated areas.
• Stay in well-lit areas and on populated pathways.
• Travel in groups; there's always safety in numbers.
• See something, say something.If you observe anyone acting in a suspicious manner, or if you feel threatened in any way, call the police immediately by dialing 911.

Finally, we understand these alerts can create intense feelings of anxiety and emotional distress. If you need support, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is here to help. You will also find a full list of our impactful supportive resources on our Student Success website. For direct support navigating campus support resources, please contact Dean of Students Cathy Pettid at cpettid@unomaha.edu.

Like you, I am hoping for a quick resolution to these concerning situations and I could not be more confident in our Department of Public Safety in meeting these challenges. I promise continued communication as we learn more. Likewise, you can always reach me at jeffrey.gold@unomaha.edu.

Thank you for being a part of the Maverick family. We are in this together.