24 Hours a Day: Bend Campus Safety Shifts Extended After Local Incidents

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. That is the new schedule for campus safety staff at Oregon State University’s Cascades location in Bend. The university implemented the expanded coverage in response to recent local incidents that have left students questioning their security on campus.

The timeline of events began on Oct. 8, when a sexual assault was reported in the university’s only residential hall. A second incident was reported two days later, on Oct. 10. University officials stated in a letter to students that the victims did not know their assailants. Both cases remain under investigation. On Oct. 15, a shooting occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School, located a few miles from the campus.

Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, addressed the OSU Board of Trustees on Friday. He noted that these three distinct events happened within seven days of each other. Woekel said the rapid succession of incidents has students concerned for their physical, sexual, and emotional safety. He confirmed that safety hours had been extended to cover the entire week.

Student leaders are now urging campus partners to review and expand emergency protocols. This includes updating plans for active shooter situations. They are also working to ensure that everyone on the Bend campus knows about available sexual violence prevention and response resources. Student employees at the campus Makerspace lab built an engraved memorial shrine. Letter-writing stations were also set up for messages of support to the Silver Rail Elementary parent-teacher organization.

OSU-Cascades closed on the Friday following the shooting and reopened for classes at the start of the current week. Meanwhile, Bend-La Pine Schools remained closed, with Silver Rail Elementary staying shut indefinitely. Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center opened confidential drop-in sessions. Woekel said these sessions are available to anyone, whether directly impacted or not.

Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard sent messages to students after the incidents. She wrote that creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility. Her messages included lists of confidential and non-confidential resources for people affected by sexual violence. Board of Trustees Chair Karla Chambers also addressed the group, stating that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community. She acknowledged that healing will take time.

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 800-656-4673. It also offers online text chat. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides confidential crisis counseling around the clock. People can call or text 1-800-985-5990 to reach a counselor. Spanish-language support is available by pressing 2.