Greetings, new and returning students of Montana State University! My name is Michael Stanley, and I'm the chief of the Montana State University Police Department (UPD). I am thrilled to welcome you to our vibrant and diverse campus. As you settle into your second week of classes, it's my honor to share how UPD is here to support you throughout your academic journey. Our department's mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone at MSU. We are here to serve you!
UPD is a professional, accredited, police agency, and we believe in building strong relationships with the university community. Campus safety takes community-wide commitment, and our most important partner in providing a safe and secure environment is you -- our students. Our officers look forward to working directly with you this academic year as we continue to take a firm stance on alcohol, drug, and weapons violations and put increased focus toward incidents of interpersonal violence -- all of which are extremely harmful to our community. We are stronger together when we approach situations, and each other, with a clear, open mind - keeping respect at the forefront of all we do.
Speaking of partnerships and teamwork, the number of specialized services available to you here at MSU are too numerous to mention in this brief message. You can familiarize yourself with these services through UPD's website or, preferably, through the Safe Cats app -- a partnership between UPD and the ASMSU student government that provides critical resource information at your fingertips. And if you have questions, we are here to help. Please connect with us!
As the excitement builds for Gold Rush, our first home football game, it's important to understand what being a good Bobcat fan means. Our student-athletes define your responsibility as a Bobcat fan through "The Bobcat Code of a Champion." Please take this responsibility seriously and encourage your fellow students to do the same. Behaviors like throwing items onto the field and jumping onto the field at the end of the game are not permitted and detract from the positive experience our athletes and community deserve. Those who commit these acts can be charged criminally.
Let's work together to maintain a campus that thrives on academic achievement, mutual respect, and a strong sense of community. Your contributions and presence make a difference, and I look forward to seeing you around campus. Please look for the UPD pop-up tent this semester. You'll see us around campus giving away coffee, doughnuts, safety-related items, and good conversation. Next week, you will hear from Director Kyleen Breslin about all the ways the Office of Institutional Equity supports students and promotes safety.
Yours in service,
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Michael H. Stanley, chief of police