Bend college extends safety patrols after week of assaults and shooting

Oregon State University-Cascades in Bend extended its campus safety patrols to a 24-hour schedule after two sexual assaults in its residential hall and a shooting at a nearby elementary school. The change follows a week of violence that has left students seeking clearer protocols and more visible security presence.

University officials reported the assaults occurred on October 8 and October 10 in the campus's only residential building. A letter to students stated that the victim did not know the assailant, and both incidents remain under investigation. The timing of these events coincided with a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, located a few miles from the university campus.

Charlie Woekel, president of the Associated Students of Cascades Campus, presented the students' concerns to the OSU Board of Trustees during its Friday meeting. He noted that the three distinct events occurred within seven days of one another. "These three distinct events happened within seven days of each other and have students concerned for their physical, sexual and emotional safety," Woekel said.

Student leaders are urging campus partners to re-examine and expand emergency protocols, including procedures for active shooter situations. They also want to ensure that people on the Bend campus understand the available resources for sexual violence prevention and response. This push comes as other institutions face similar scrutiny, with five incidents reported during the first week of classes at the University of Oregon's Eugene campus.

Interim Chancellor and Dean Christine Pollard sent messages to students following the assault reports. "Creating a safe campus community is a shared responsibility," she wrote. "We are a close-knit campus, and I encourage you to look out for and support one another." Her communications included lists of confidential and non-confidential resources for those affected.

OSU-Cascades closed on the Friday after the shooting and reopened for classes at the start of this week. Bend-La Pine Schools remained closed, and Silver Rail Elementary is closed indefinitely. Student leaders set up letter-writing stations for support messages to the school's parent-teacher organization, and student employees at the campus Makerspace lab built an engraved memorial shrine.

Student Health and Wellness and the Student Counseling Center have opened confidential drop-in sessions for anyone on campus. Woekel said these sessions are available for people "whether directly impacted or not." Board of Trustees Chair Karla Chambers addressed the hurt felt by many OSU students and staff after the shooting, stating, "I want you to know that the entire OSU family stands with the Bend community."