MANKATO — As the new school year begins at Minnesota State University, school officials are working to make the campus as open and welcoming to new students as they can. Part of those efforts led to campus security hosting its fourth annual Safety Expo Wednesday on campus.
Jody Habinck is the emergency manager for MSU and host of the event, which partnered with area police, fire rescue and other emergency services both on and off campus. He said the event is aimed at making connections.
“We’re trying to especially speak to first-time students (to) break down that barrier between us and them and to just show them that we’re there for them and it doesn’t matter where they come from,” Habinck said.
That connection can be vital, especially considering that some of the incoming freshmen may have only had negative experiences with law enforcement.
“Some of the kids that come from the city have had bad experiences with law enforcement or security; some of the students that come from the country really have had no experience with fire or police at this level. So just a great opportunity for university security to show our partnerships,” he said.
Kritikb and Smarika, who preferred not to share their last names, are both freshmen international students from India, and they said an event like this can really help them feel connected to this new community so far away from home.
“We just want to explore, we are new and we want to do everything and be in everything that is going on here,” Smarika said.
The expo didn’t only bring out law enforcement, it also introduced students to other organizations that could help them in a time of crisis.
“We’ve got accessibility resources, so kids that have physical or mental challenges in the learning environment (can get) some help and moving along in their education journey,” Habinck said. “Then the food pantry, food insecurity is a big problem on campuses and in the United States in general, and so they offer a place where people can depend on getting regular food.”
It was those resources that incoming students such as Kritikb and Smarika were especially excited to connect with.
“I definitely liked the CADA stall and the woman center,” Kritikb said, referring to the organizations that help students who have become victims of sexual violence or harassment.
“What I like about this is that (MSU) is very oriented about mental health, sexual health and safekeeping. It’s a good thing. … I love that,” Smarika said.
Habinck said the event typically gets a good response, with crowds growing every year. That helps students feel safe when they have to meet security or law enforcement under less favorable circumstances.
“A lot of the time the only interaction they’re going to have with security is when they’ve done something bad, or there’s an incident and we have to show up and take care of the situation,” Habinck said. “So it’s fun to interact with the students on their best days rather than their worst.”