Public Relations :
University launches Take Care Initiative
Central Michigan University is known as one of the friendliest campuses in the state.
But a sociable reputation is not enough to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring.
Recent incidences in the local community and on campus brought on a large response from alumni, students, and parents asking if more could be done to prevent such situations.
CMU has responded through designing and implementing the Take Care Initiative.
The Take Care Initiative encourages students and other members of the CMU community to pay attention to what is going on around them, notice potentially serious situations, and respond to the best of their ability to influence a better outcome.
“The initiative is a way to get people to look out for themselves and others, to make good decisions, and to get help from others when needed,” said Tony Voisin, CMU’s director of student life.
There are five components of the Take Care process:
- Concern for others
- Awareness of others
- Knowledge
- Ability to act
- Confidence
Through these five components, the CMU community will become more knowledgeable and accepting of its actions.
“We want people to understand the message and be comfortable asking others, ‘Are you OK? Do you need some help?’” Voisin said.
CMU is presenting the Take Care Initiative during several programs and events. New students, parents, staff, and faculty will hear about Take Care during new student orientation sessions, and CMU’s Leadership Camp and Leadership Safari participants will discuss the initiative during several group activities.
Campus Greek Life and Athletics participants also will weave the initiative into their everyday lives and practices. These two groups of students will focus on the idea of how the team concept translates into accountability and safety.
“Friendliness at CMU is a point of pride for many students because it is generated from our attitudes and personalities,” said Stephen Tait, a CMU senior from Farwell. “The Take Care Initiative will begin by encouraging all members of the university to be more altruistic in their actions.”
Voisin is enthusiastic about the Take Care concept, but he acknowledges it will not catch on overnight.
“The Take Care Initiative began in the fall of 2004, and it’s not going to be institutionalized in a year,” Voisin said. “However, I’m pretty confident that in three to four years people will have a good idea about Take Care when they leave and how it fits CMU’s community.”