Why Campus Safety is a WUSA Advocacy Priority & How You Can Share Your Voice

Campus safety is more than just physical security—it encompasses personal, emotional, and psychological well-being. WUSA is dedicated to advocating for a campus where all students feel protected, respected, and supported.  

This includes: 

• Personal Safety: Ensuring students are free from harm, threats, harassment, or aggression.
• Emotional Safety: Creating an inclusive environment where students feel accepted and empowered to express their needs.
• Psychological Safety: Fostering a culture where students can speak up without fear of punishment or humiliation. 

Through past advocacy efforts at WUSA, we have identified some of the key concerns affecting students at Waterloo. This includes racialized students, students with disabilities, and students grouped as gender non-confirming, who experience heightened concerns for their safety on campus, feeling more unsafe on campus at night, and more. Despite 88% of students reporting that they feel safe or very safe on campus, there is still work to do to ensure students on campus feel safe, supported, and secure! If you want to know more about student perceptions of safety, check out our RSP report on safety: Student Safety Report. 

WUSA has actively worked with local government and University administration to improve student safety, such as advocating for better safety measures for commuting students. You can read more about these initiatives here. 

WUSA is committed to prioritizing safety advocacy in 2024-25, ensuring that all students feel secure within their community. Student feedback plays a critical role in shaping these efforts. 

One way you can contribute to this advocacy work and have your voice heard is by attending the upcoming Safety Roundtable on March 3, from 5:30–7 PM.   

Your voice matters! The concerns raised during the roundtable will help WUSA push for tangible improvements to campus safety policies and practices. By participating, you contribute to building a safer environment for all students. 

If you are experiencing hate, or you are feeling unsafe on campus, you can check out these resources below: 

• Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Supports | Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism | University of Waterloo 
• For When You Need Support – Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association 

We hope to see you join us at the Safety Roundtable to share your opinion and help shape a safer campus for all students! 

Alexandra Minard 

Communications Assistant