Bend Campus Security Shifts to Full Duty
OSU-Cascades extends patrols to 24 hours a day following two assaults and a nearby school shooting.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Students at Oregon State University’s Cascades campus in Bend now face 24-hour security coverage after two sexual assaults and a local shooting disrupted daily life this month. The change eliminates overnight gaps in patrol schedules.
University officials confirmed the extension in response to two reported sexual assaults. Both incidents occurred in the campus’s only residential hall, with reports filed on Oct. 8 and Oct. 10. A letter from administrators noted that the victims did not know their assailants. Investigations into both cases remain open.
The timing of these events intensified local anxiety. A shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, located a few miles from the university, occurred within the same seven-day window. Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, told the OSU Board of Trustees on Friday that students were worried about their physical, sexual, and emotional safety. Woekel stated, “These three distinct events happened within seven days of each other and have students concerned for their physical, sexual and emotional safety.”
Student leaders are pushing for expanded emergency protocols beyond the immediate security shift. They want campus partners to review active shooter procedures and ensure students understand available resources for sexual violence prevention. Woekel added, “Despite the anger, pain, and sadness we've been feeling as a campus community, our community has been unified to help one another get through these unprecedented times.”
The campus closed on the Friday following the shooting and reopened for classes this week. Silver Rail Elementary remains closed indefinitely, while Bend-La Pine Schools stayed shut for a longer period. Student groups established letter-writing stations and created an engraved memorial in the campus Makerspace lab. Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center opened confidential drop-in sessions for all students, whether directly impacted or not.
Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard addressed the community in writing after the assault reports. She emphasized that safety is a shared duty, stating, “Creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility.” Board of Trustees Chair Karla Chambers also spoke to the group, saying, “I want you to know that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community.”
National attention on campus safety has grown recently. Five incidents were reported at the University of Oregon’s Eugene campus during the first week of classes. Discussions continue regarding a 2024 alleged rape case at Cornell University. Local resources remain available for those seeking support, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
