Oakland University Reports Campus Incident, Lockdown Lifted
Oakland University police responded to a reported aggravated assault on campus Thursday night, prompting a temporary lockdown. The incident occurred as concerns about campus violence remain prevalent, a topic Oakland University has actively addressed through preventative measures and awareness programs.
According to a brief report, the suspect is described as a Black man wearing dark clothing. No further details about the suspect or the circumstances surrounding the assault were immediately released by authorities.
The incident comes amid a broader national conversation about safety on college campuses. Oakland University Police Department (OUPD) has long emphasized the importance of proactive safety measures. The university “proudly boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Oakland County,” and encourages students, faculty, and staff to be alert and practice common sense to avoid becoming victims of crime.
OUPD offers several resources to enhance campus safety, including 911 access from on-campus phones, a dedicated emergency line at (248) 370-3331, and strategically placed blue light emergency phones throughout campus. The department also provides a SAFEwalk escort service, where police officers or service aides will accompany individuals walking on campus, available by calling (248) 370-3331.
The university’s commitment to campus safety extends to preventative education. Oakland University has implemented programs designed to identify early warning signs of potential violence and build awareness about prevention strategies. A course on preventing campus violence explores common causes and debunks myths surrounding campus safety.
The focus on campus safety is rooted in a history of tragic events at other institutions. The OUPD materials reference incidents at Montreal College in 2006, where a shooter killed one student and wounded 20 others, and the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, which resulted in 32 fatalities and numerous injuries. These events underscore the potential for violence on college campuses, even those with historically low crime rates.
Oakland University’s approach to campus safety encompasses various forms of potential violence, including workplace violence perpetrated by employees, violence committed by students, and incidents involving individuals from outside the university community. The university defines campus violence broadly as “assaults or other violent acts or threats which occur in the educational setting and entail a substantial risk of physical or emotional harm to individuals.”
The university adheres to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), a federal mandate requiring institutions of higher education to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. Oakland University publishes an Annual Security & Fire Safety Report in compliance with the Clery Act, providing the campus community with an overview of security resources, policies, and procedures.
OUPD encourages all members of the campus community to report crimes promptly. Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are required to report Clery Act qualifying crimes that occur on campus, in public areas bordering campus, and in certain non-campus buildings owned or controlled by the University.
While details surrounding Thursday night’s incident remain limited, the OUPD’s proactive approach and commitment to transparency, as outlined in the Clery Act reporting, aim to maintain a safe environment for the Oakland University community.
