While e-mails sent from the University Police Department may go unread in students’ mailboxes, the University has taken extra precaution to ensure students are informed about ways to be safe.

The annual Public Safety Day, held on Thursday, was aimed at promoting safety awareness and was sponsored by the Division of Public Safety, the Office of the Dean of Students, and Facilities and Services.

“Unfortunately, crimes do occur. We do have people that want to victimize people, bottom-line,” said Lt. Skip Frost, who is in charge of campus patrol operations for the University Police.

The event was held on the Quad side of the Illini Union with members representing the Urbana, Champaign and University police departments. They were present to answer questions students might have about laws, and to provide personal safety tips for students. Informational pamphlets, bike lights, and t-shirts were also given out to students.

Frost said although his department tries their best to keep the campus safe, he emphasized that students also need to be proactive when it comes to personal safety.

“It is also your responsibility to keep yourself safe,” Frost said. “We need students to take sensible precautions.”

Frost said students need to prevent crimes of opportunity by avoiding things such as walking alone at night, or consuming so much alcohol that they are unaware of their surroundings.

“Alcohol is a huge factor in these crimes. Some people drink a lot until they can’t remember any details of the crime that has taken place,” Frost said.

Shawn Johnson, a University police officer, said that students need to avoid being distracted.

“A lot of students are distracted by iPods and cell phones and are not paying attention as they walk around campus,” he said.

Theft of personal possessions is also a problem on campus, which is why Johnson said students should not leave their belongings unattended.

“It only takes a few seconds for a laptop to disappear from an unlocked room or public location,” Johnson said. “Take your stuff with you wherever you go, don’t leave it unattended for any amount of time.”

Frost also offered his advice to students that become victims of crimes.

“First and foremost, do not provoke the attacker and call 911 as soon as possible,” Frost said.

He said the police department is surprised that some people might wait hours or days to call the police. Chances of catching the perpetrator decrease the longer people wait.

Rhonda Kirts, associate dean of students, said her office is a co-sponsor of the event because they have a vested interest in educating students about being safe.

She also added that her office does offer assistance to students that have been victims of crimes.

“If a student is assaulted, we follow up to see if we can be of any assistance to the student,” Kirts said.

In addition to other things, there was a bicycle obstacle course to illustrate safety precautions students should take while riding their bicycle around campus and town.

Russell Pildes, freshman in LAS, said he is an “avid cyclist” and picked up a Champaign-Urbana area bicycle map and pamphlet on safe bicycle riding from the event.

“I’ve been hit by a car once,” Pildes said. “It is very helpful getting tips about traveling around town safely.”