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MORGANTOWN – West Virginia University's annual back-to-school event, "Welcome Week," kicked off Wednesday and will last until Aug. 23. University Police Department Chief Sherry St. Clair shared how the UPD prepares every year for the influx of students.
"We work with everyone in the institution to make sure it's a safe environment," St. Clair said. "There's a lot of different events going on, so we make sure our officers are really vigilant and out there being seen."
This year's events include Midnight Mountaineer at the Student Recreation Center, WVU Up All Night, the Student Organization Fair, Sunday Night lights, Mountaineer Midway and Movie and more. A full schedule of events can be found at wvu.edu/events/welcomeweek/.
Move-in began on Thursday and will wrap up this weekend. St. Clair said that everything has been running smoothly so far, and the UPD is prioritizing traffic flow.
"Normally our officers are out in traffic, making sure that traffic is moving slowly, moving good," she said. "They are also helping people get parked. If they have any questions ... we answer a lot of questions about directions. 'Where do I need to go? What do I need to do?' They're there to help them out."
St. Clair said that drivers should avoid areas of residence halls as much as possible during this transition period.
St. Clair has been at the UPD for 32 years. She said some of the biggest changes this year are classes starting earlier, as well as the Midway Movie event to replace Fall Fest, WVU's annual fall semester concert.
The Mountaineer Midway and Movie will take place on Monday at the Life Sciences Lawn, featuring a showing of "Project Hail Mary," food vendors and carnival games.
St. Clair urges students to be aware of their surroundings during this time and to travel in groups when going out.
"One thing we're really pushing this year is pedestrian safety, making sure you pay attention to where you walk, watch for vehicles, and vehicles need to watch for pedestrians," St. Clair said. "We know that a lot of people are going to be drinking. Drink responsibly, and always have a friend with you."
St. Clair stressed that students can trust the UPD to keep them safe, and never to be afraid to ask for assistance.
"I want students to be aware that we're here to help them," St. Clair said. "We're not here to arrest them, to cite them, we're here to solve a problem. We know that, for a lot of kids, this is their first time away from home. We want to make sure this is a good experience for them."
The UPD can be reached at 304-293-2677. For emergencies, call 911.