Staying aware of your surroundings is the responsibility of both drivers and pedestrians. Avoid distractions like cell phones and remove headphones or ear buds so you can hear what鈥檚 going on around you.

Drivers must follow posted speed limits and yield to pedestrians 鈥� even at green lights. Likewise, pedestrians should follow traffic rules, use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing streets, even when they have the right of way.

Keeping 麻豆原创鈥檚 roads safe is a collective effort, which is why new pedestrian safety enhancements have been added on and off the university’s main campus.

Pedestrian Safety Improvements

In the past few years, 麻豆原创 has made improvements around its main campus by restriping crosswalks for better visibility and adding rumble strips before crosswalks that aren鈥檛 at a traffic light. Rumble strips are designed to provide an audible and vibration warning to alert drivers to slow down.

Flashing lights have been installed at some of the busier crosswalks around campus, along with signage reminding drivers that state law requires them to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Off campus, Orange County made significant pedestrian safety upgrades along Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard, including new mid-block crosswalk signals at Solon Drive on Alafaya Trail and Turbine Drive on University Boulevard. The crossings make it more convenient for pedestrians to get to 麻豆原创, nearby restaurants and retail. They feature textured, colored pavement, pedestrian-activated stop lights and road markings that remind drivers to watch for pedestrians.

New fencing and landscaping will help direct pedestrians to the crosswalks, and sidewalks have been widened to eight or 10 feet. Additional signage, lighting and landscaping were also added.

Additionally, major intersections in the area were also updated with high-visibility crosswalks and redesigned with smaller turning radii that force vehicles to slow down.

麻豆原创PD鈥檚 Commitment to Pedestrian Safety

The 麻豆原创 Police Department (麻豆原创PD) regularly conducts pedestrian safety details, where plain-clothed employees use crosswalks throughout campus while officers assess drivers鈥� responses.

While the main goal of these details is education, drivers who fail to yield may be stopped and issued a verbal warning or a citation at the officer鈥檚 discretion. Pedestrians crossing illegally may also be stopped.

Ahead of these details, 麻豆原创PD shares information about these efforts on social media and message boards around campus.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is estimated to be highly active. Projections suggest 24 named storms, with 11 anticipated to become hurricanes, according to The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2. Six hurricanes are forecasted to become Category 3 or higher, presenting substantial threats to coastal and inland regions.

University and Personal Planning

At 麻豆原创, teams plan and train for hurricane season year-round. 麻豆原创鈥檚 Emergency Management team works hard to prevent, prepare for, manage and recover from a variety of threats to 麻豆原创, including severe weather.

麻豆原创 is a designated StormReady university through the National Weather Service.

In addition to the work being done at the central level, led by the Department of Emergency Management, we encourage all departments to evaluate their own hurricane procedures and staffing plans at this time, in advance of an imminent storm.

When tropical weather systems are threatening, Emergency Management is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center. If a serious storm or hurricane threatens our region, Governor Ron DeSantis and 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright have the authority to cancel classes or close campuses. 麻豆原创 often does so in consultation with other area colleges, school districts and government officials.

We encourage students and 麻豆原创 employees to put together their own hurricane safety kits and to create a plan with their families and loved ones should a storm impact Central Florida.

Prepping a Hurricane Kit

Knights should assemble a hurricane kit, which should provide enough essentials to survive at least three days. Kits should include:

• Water
• Nonperishable food
• Weather radio
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Batteries
• Can opener
• Cash
• Cell phone charge
• Identification cards
• Any necessary prescription medications

This year鈥檚 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday extends June 1-14. This two-week tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on essential disaster preparedness items.

How to Stay Informed

The 麻豆原创 Alert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community notified of severe weather threats. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via . A parent, spouse or other secondary contact鈥檚 email address also can be added, allowing them to receive the updates.

In addition to 麻豆原创 Alert messages, details about any class cancelations, impact to services or campus closures will be shared on the 麻豆原创 homepage, and @麻豆原创 and @麻豆原创Police on social media. Faculty members also are encouraged to post any changes to class assignments due to campus closures on Webcourses.

麻豆原创 has been impacted by hurricanes before, and we have been able to weather those storms while maintaining our strong commitment to academic excellence and student success.

While we hope for a hurricane-free season, it is always best to prepare and educate yourself in advance of a storm, especially in time such as now that requires extra considerations and flexibility.

Let鈥檚 each do our part by staying aware and prepared, and together, we鈥檒l make 麻豆原创 a safer place for all of us.

The scooters were originally on campus last spring, after 麻豆原创 Student Government worked with Spin, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, to bring the e-scooters and charging stations to campus. They were temporarily removed after campus was closed due to the pandemic.

鈥淲e are excited to share that Spin scooters are officially back on 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus,鈥� says Student Government President Sabrina La Rosa. 鈥淪afety continues to be the top priority of Spin and 麻豆原创. That鈥檚 why we worked together to identify several key safety enhancements.鈥�

New safety and sanitation features that will be implemented this year include:

• A safety ambassador program, where student ambassadors will ride around campus helping to identify issues and ensure everything runs smoothly.
• All users will be required to complete an online safety test prior to their first ride.
• All scooters will have a top speed of 10 mph throughout campus and 15 mph on Gemini Blvd. during the first week of the program and will automatically be set to these speeds for all first rides.
• Scooters will be sanitized by Spin鈥檚 operation teams every time that a scooter is rebalanced or picked up to charge.
• All Spin team members wear PPE, conduct daily health screens and physically distance in the company鈥檚 warehouses.
• The Spin app will send reminders to riders to take precautions, such as washing hands before and after every ride.

鈥淲e have full control over operations and safety procedures,鈥� says Edward Sun, senior operations manager at Spin. 鈥淲hen COVID hit, we engaged global experts to determine how to keep our riders and staff safe. We鈥檝e also been working closely with 麻豆原创 students and administration for several months now to develop this new safety plan that we鈥檒l roll out when we re-launch at the start of the spring semester.鈥�

The scooters will operate from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., will only be operational on campus, and require downloading the Spin app, which is available on and devices. Scooters will be available at 15 charging stations across campus and will cost $1 to unlock and $0.15 per minute to ride.

The 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center, RWC @ Downtown and RWC Lap Pool will open again with extended hours. The RWC is also reopening the Climbing Tower and RWC @ Knights Plaza. The RWC will continue to offer in-person outdoor programming that optimizes student safety (intramural sports, Outdoor Adventure trips, on-campus adventures, and outdoor group exercise classes).

The 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center and RWC @ Downtown will reopen for students starting Jan. 11 with extended hours. The RWC is also reopening the Climbing Tower and RWC @ Knights Plaza. The RWC will continue to offer in-person outdoor programming that optimizes student safety (Intramural Sports, Outdoor Adventure Trips and On Campus Adventures, and outdoor Group Exercise Classes).The RWC will continue to offer programming through its RWC+ virtual platform, as well.

Each facility will have limited hours for students and paying members to work out and will feature new safety and check-in procedures to help comply with COVID-19 guidelines at 麻豆原创. Paying members at the RWC can opt back into their memberships starting Jan. 4.

Scott Mauro 鈥�94 鈥�19MA, marketing and communications manager at the RWC, says the staff has attended trainings to properly and safely welcome back students.

鈥淓very system we have in place is meant to promote the health and well-being of our students, staff, and members,” Mauro says. “It鈥檚 important to our team to give our users that peace of mind.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檝e been looking at best practices in the campus recreation field as well as adhering to university guidelines to keep everyone safe.鈥�

Mauro also stresses that the 麻豆原创 RWC does not fall into the same category as for-profit gyms open to the public.

鈥淲e adhere to the best practices in the campus recreation field as well as university guidelines to help promote everyone’s safety,鈥� he says.

Here are some details of their current operational practices.

Which facilities are currently open?

Outdoor Venues

• William E. and Mary Jo Davis Recreation Area at Lake Claire
• RWC Park
• Tennis courts
• Outdoor Adventure Center
• Outdoor basketball courts

Fitness classes will be offered in person at Lake Claire, RWC Park and Garage B, as well as virtually through RWC+. .

These facilities have modified hours to accommodate cleanings, inclement weather and adjusted policies regarding equipment rentals, group gatherings, reservations, etc. Weather alerts will also be available on the RWC website to help students with planning.

Indoor Venues

• RWC (including the Lap Pool and Climbing Tower)
• RWC @ Downtown
• RWC @ Knights Plaza

The RWC will have a maximum capacity of 125 users and will require reservations in advance for time slots throughout the day. The RWC @ Downtown and RWC @ Knights Plaza facilities will have a maximum capacity of 15 users at any given time, with real-time capacity listed on the RWC website.

What are the hours of operation?

You can find the most up-to-date hours of operation for all facilities on the RWC’s openings, reservations and safety measures webpage.

More than 30 pieces of cardio equipment have been moved to one of the basketball courts to open more space on the main floor and help adhere to physical-distancing guidelines.

Only currently enrolled 麻豆原创 students and individuals with a current RWC membership may access the facilities.

Watercraft rentals at Lake Claire are available and will be cleaned after use. However, other equipment rentals for sports such as tennis or badminton will not be offered. Students must bring their own equipment.

The RWC is has transitioned to contact-free entry and has installed barcode readers at check-in stations. Each student will be assigned a barcode, which is available through the RWC to Go mobile app. To download on your mobile device, search 麻豆原创 Recreation and Wellness Center in IOS and Android app stores.

All students will be required to sign a liability and risk assumption waiver, which can be accessed through the RWC website and mobile app. The waiver is valid for one year. Students will not gain entry to facilities without signing the waiver.

In order to provide the safest environment, the RWC is committed to extensive cleaning and disinfectant practices following university, CDC guidelines and industry-best standards. The RWC will use EPA-registered disinfectants proven to eliminate COVID-19 on surfaces.

Sanitizing stations will be provided at all indoor and outside facilities during operating hours as well as increasing frequency of custodial rounds to address high-touch points.

Extra disinfectant wipes for gym equipment will be available.

In accordance with university and CDC guidelines, the RWC will require face coverings in all inside spaces at all times.

In a situation such as outdoor singles tennis, students will not be required to wear a face covering.

When the RWC closed its physical spaces in March 2020, it created RWC+, an online extension of the RWC that includes a variety of programs to reduce stress by staying active. From virtual group fitness classes to esports leagues, RWC+ allows Knights to continue to connect with the 麻豆原创 community from anywhere.

RWC+ is also planning to create more programs that encourage students to get outdoors whether it is fitness classes or special programs like virtual 5k training.

鈥淚 believe some form of RWC+ will be offered to students from here on out.鈥�

Mauro says he expects RWC+ to continue, even as the department resumes more of its in-person services.

鈥淚 believe some form of RWC+ will be offered to students from here on out,鈥� Mauro says.

RWC+, esports, online games and sports trivia are offered at this time.

In the fall, esports will continue to be offered, and small-group, in-person sports that allow physical distancing will be permitted, including singles badminton, cornhole, golf, tennis, etc. Team sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained will not be offered.

Where to Find Up-to-Date Information

• RWC app
• RWC鈥檚 Safety page
• @麻豆原创RWC on Twitter and Instagram

For the latest information about returning to campus, visit 麻豆原创鈥檚 coronavirus and Returning to 麻豆原创 websites. Students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to complete the COVID Self-Checker 鈥� available via the or online 鈥� each day before arriving to campus.

Although Knight Ride 鈥� the van that circles campus and provides free, safe rides at night 鈥� will not be in service, 麻豆原创PD will provide alternatives for students, faculty and staff members to navigate campus safely after dark.

鈥淐OVID-19 has forced us to rethink the Knight Ride service, at least for the fall semester, but we will have other options in place to help our students and employees stay safe while on campus late at night,鈥� says 麻豆原创 Police Chief Carl Metzger 鈥�03MS.

SafeWalk

In the , the 鈥淪afeWalk鈥� feature allows users to share their location, destination and estimated arrival time with selected friends who can track the user鈥檚 trip on a real-time map. Friends will receive updates about the trip and, in the event of the unexpected, can ping police for assistance and relay critical location and timing information from the app.

Anyone can access the 麻豆原创 Mobile app by downloading it at . Once downloaded, select the SafeWalk icon on the home page of the 麻豆原创 Mobile app and follow the directions on the screen.

Walking Escorts

麻豆原创 Police representatives will be available to provide a walking escort for students and faculty and staff members who prefer the in-person service.

The 麻豆原创 community can simply call 407-823-2424 to request a walking escort anywhere on campus, and a 麻豆原创 Police staff member or officer will escort them to their destination.

A golf cart will be available for those who require an ADA-compliant method of transportation.

The segment focuses on newly implemented safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including Plexiglas in high-contact areas, classroom and resident hall capacities, and sanitizing stations around campus.

鈥淭o me, student safety is the priority, and we have to focus on that,鈥� Student Government President Sabrina La Rosa says in the clip.

Tollefson is the resident costume designer for Theatre 麻豆原创 and knows her way around a sewing machine. He asked her if she would be willing to make 80 face masks.

Without hesitation, Tollefson said yes and enlisted the help of her five daughters to help her finish the job faster.

鈥淚 wanted to help my community in any way I could. This is what theatre people do 鈥� we figure it out and make it work no matter the circumstances,鈥� she says.

Tollefson has been teaching at 麻豆原创 since 2000. Metzger and his wife, Linda, moved into her neighborhood five years ago, and they struck up an immediate friendship.

Metzger considers the Tollefsons part of the family. Tollefson鈥檚 daughters 鈥� ages 17, 15, 14, 13 and 9 鈥� often visit the Metzgers to play with their terrier mix, Sadie, so they were eager to join in the project and help their friend.

鈥淸Kristina] and her husband, Jason, are the most giving and caring people I know.鈥� 鈥� 麻豆原创PD Chief Carl Metzger

鈥淚t isn’t surprising that Kristina and her family are doing this.聽She and her husband, Jason, are the most giving and caring people I know,鈥� Metzger says.

Homemade and High Quality

Tollefson has a small costume-shop studio at her house where she often spends time with her daughters doing crafts, weaving and sewing. Since they began the project Saturday, they spend most of their days in the studio cranking out masks on three sewing machines and a serger, which trims and locks seams.

Tollefson says most of the materials used for the masks have been from her personal stash with the exception of a few yards of fabric from 麻豆原创鈥檚 costume shop. She has been using grosgrain ribbon as ties, but as her stock started to deplete, Metzger鈥檚 wife purchased and delivered some 麻豆原创-themed fabric, which she left on the doorstep, to replenish and keep operations moving.

For the mask design itself, Tollefson is using a guide she found on the . The AB Mask 2.0 was created by Jessica Nandino, a former trauma nurse. All the masks are black and gold 鈥� with scrap cotton fabric of various colors used as lining 鈥� and are made with a heavyweight cotton jersey knit.

鈥淭he outside all looks very official,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ecause I鈥檓 a costume designer, so I was concerned that they had to go with the uniform.鈥�

She can鈥檛 say for certain how long it takes for them to complete one mask because they鈥檙e also juggling the kids鈥� school work in between sewing sessions. Tollefson, who is currently on sabbatical while writing a book, says they have set up an assembly-line and each daughter has her own specialty.

They delivered 24 masks already and have another pile of 30 that are nearly finished.

鈥淥ur officers love the masks,鈥� Metzger says.聽鈥淭hey are more comfortable than most masks because of the tie-strings.聽They also have a built-in pocket to add in filtering material when it becomes available.聽And they are wicked cool with 麻豆原创 colors and 麻豆原创PD embroidered on them.鈥�

鈥淚f you look throughout the world, there are a lot of artists that are stepping in and using their skills right now to try to help in whatever way they can.鈥� 鈥� Professor Kristina Tollefson

While Metzger has requested 80 masks, Tollefson plans to keep sewing as long as masks are needed. Her desire to make an impact in the community is inspired by her late friend, Harriett Lake, who was a devoted philanthropist to Orlando鈥檚 arts scene.

鈥淭he arts sometimes are looked at as superfluous to society, but in a crisis, we step in and help heal and support the people who need it,鈥� says Tollefson, who also helped craft and organize volunteers to stitch the Angel Action Wings following the Pulse tragedy, which blocked protests at victims鈥� funerals. 鈥淚f you look throughout the world, there are a lot of artists that are stepping in and using their skills right now to try to help in whatever way they can, in practical ways 鈥� not just in making people feel good or making them think, but using our skills to help people.鈥�

Germs live everywhere. Many things we touch every day 鈥� door handles, bathroom sinks, office phones and money 鈥� have been touched by hundreds or even thousands of other people.

That’s why practicing good hygiene habits is important for promoting good health, especially during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and flu season.

Viruses such as the Coronavirus enter our systems via the eyes, nose and mouth, so avoid germs getting to your face by being vigilant and keeping your hands clean. And as much as possible, avoid touching your face 鈥� by some estimates we touch our face about 90 times a day.

Here are some tips for preventing illnesses through good personal hygiene:

1. Wash your hands and body regularly.
While you should definitely be washing your hands after you use the restroom, don’t stop there. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day, especially before meals. You should spend at least 10-20 seconds washing. The CDC has more information about the proper handwashing technique. The same goes for your body 鈥� you should be bathing at least once a day to prevent disease-causing germs from spreading.

Avoid grasping shared surfaces such as door handles, gas pumps, grocery carts, elevator buttons, etc. with your hands. When possible, open doors with your closed fist or hip. This is especially important when you open doors that have been used by many people 鈥� such as the bathroom or a commercial shop.

Use your knuckle to touch things like light switches and elevator buttons in public locations. At the gas station, hold the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or disposable glove.

Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer that is greater than 60% alcohol at home and in your car. Use the sanitizer after touching any public object. Additionally, use disinfectant wipes at stores whenever they are available. Wipe both the handle and child seat of grocery carts.

4. Wash your clothing.
Much like our bodies, germs also like to cling to our clothes. Don’t wear dirty clothing that has been sitting on your bedroom floor. The outfit you put on in the morning should be clean and free of any bacteria caused by sweat and other factors.

5. Be courteous of others if you are sick.
If you’re sick, stay home from work or school. Avoid contact with others. Don’t share utensils and glasses with others. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve and clean up immediately.

The benefits of good personal hygiene go beyond having a pleasant social presence. Good hygiene practices can keep you and those around you healthy and happy. Remember to also pay close attention to these tips when your body is most vulnerable, such as when you’re traveling or going to a place where you will be surrounded by a lot of people.

To schedule an appointment at 麻豆原创 College of Medicine鈥檚 East Orlando or Lake Nona physician practices, call 407-266-3627 or visit聽.聽For more information, visit聽.

What did you earn your degree in?

Interdisciplinary studies with a minor in criminal justice

Describe your experience at 麻豆原创.

I started my law enforcement career at the 麻豆原创 Police Department when I was 20 years old in 2001. During my service I have had assignments to our DUI Unit, Patrol Division, Regional Campus Division, Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Prevention Unit.

Why did you choose to work at 麻豆原创 Police and how does it compare to other agencies?

I applied at 麻豆原创 Police Department while I was in the Law Enforcement Academy after I had a ride along and began to interact with members of the agency. I quickly realized this was the place for me.

What sets us apart from any other agency is also what has kept me here at 麻豆原创 for the past two decades. That is our ability to actually make a difference in our community.

In many ways, 麻豆原创PD is no different than any other local police agency. We are a full service and accredited law enforcement agency. We have our own 911 call center, Investigations Division and respond to all types of calls for service. What sets us apart from any other agency is also what has kept me here at 麻豆原创 for the past two decades. That is our ability to actually make a difference in our community. Our chief strongly believes in our team being part of the community and having as many positive interactions with students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community as possible. Many of our agency members are also alumni, or currently taking classes at 麻豆原创, and have a vested interest in keeping 麻豆原创 a safe place to live, learn and work.

Describe the proudest moment of your career.

I have received two lifesaving awards through our department which are meaningful to me. In general, I am most proud of how our teams come together to accomplish our shared mission. Policing often involves high stress situations, and in those moments all we have is each other. As a team, we rely on our training, experience and on our fellow first responders to bring order and peace to a chaotic scene.

When not on patrol, how do you spend your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my wife and two children. We go to the beach, like to travel together and most recently became annual passholders at Disney. I have also recently started to live more of a healthy lifestyle which includes running several 5Ks.

What鈥檚 your favorite TV show?

鈥淭he Office.鈥�

Do you have any hidden talents?

My main superpower is always being able to pick the slowest line to be in. I also played trumpet in high school and college.

What are you most passionate about?

I am a huge 麻豆原创 sports fan and was at the Peach Bowl when we beat Auburn. I also love attending 麻豆原创 basketball and baseball games as much as I can.

What鈥檚 your favorite lunch spot in downtown Orlando?

So far, my favorite is King Bao (710 N Mills Ave.). I am always open to suggestions, so if you see me please tell me your favorites.

It’s the responsibility of both drivers and pedestrians to pay attention to what’s around them and follow the rules of the road. Drivers should yield to pedestrians even when drivers have a green light. Pedestrians also are responsible for following traffic signals and rules. Pedestrians should always use a crosswalk and look both ways before crossing the street, even when they have the right of way. It’s important to remember that distractions like cell phones and headphones can be dangerous for pedestrians, too.

“Drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and skateboarders all share 麻豆原创’s campus,” 麻豆原创 Police Chief Carl Metzger ’03MS says. “Let’s keep 麻豆原创 safe for everyone by obeying the rules of the road.”

The 麻豆原创 Police Department also has invested in pedestrian safety improvements on campus. In January, the university added 鈥淪TOP for Pedestrian in Crosswalk鈥� signage at five locations across campus. In addition, five crosswalks have been upgraded with flashing yellow lights. 麻豆原创 police also have been citing drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians.

麻豆原创 is also focused on keeping students safe on the busy roads in the area. The university has partnered with Orange County and the Florida Department of Transportation to fund the construction of improvements to safeguard pedestrians and bicyclists on and near campus.

This project began with a study led by Orange County to determine what improvements would be most effective. A pedestrian bridge at the intersection of Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard was studied but ultimately ruled out by county traffic engineers. That鈥檚 because crash data shows that these accidents occur over a very wide area covering 4.6 miles, from Challenger Parkway to McCulloch Road on Alafaya Trail; from Rouse Road to Alafaya Trail on University Boulevard; and from Alafaya Trail to North Orion Boulevard on McCulloch Road. Traffic engineers concluded that pedestrians and bicyclists would not travel very far to use a bridge.

Instead, the county and state (which control these roads) are building a variety of improvements costing $8.8 million, including about $2.9 million from 麻豆原创. These upgrades are now being designed and construction should begin in early 2020:

• Pedestrian fencing and landscaping in the medians to funnel people to crosswalks rather than crossing at dangerous spots
• A new 10-foot-wide pedestrian/bike path on the east side of Alafaya Trail along 麻豆原创 property
• New signalized mid-block crosswalks with textured colored pavement so pedestrians have more safe, highly visible locations to cross
• Improvements at major intersections, including high-visibility crosswalks and smaller turning radii that forces vehicles to slow down
• Textured crosswalks at smaller roads and driveways
• 8-foot-wide sidewalks
• Pedestrian scale lighting
• Additional wayfinding signage
• Landscaping

In addition, some additional interim improvements were recently added, including:

• Pedestrian warning flashers were installed along northbound and southbound Alafaya Trail near University Boulevard. Similar flashers were placed on University Boulevard near Alafaya in 2018.
• 鈥淲atch For Peds鈥� messages have been painted on the roadway near the warning flashers.
• Flashing yellow arrows were installed at three corners of the intersection of Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard to signal that drivers should slow down and use caution as they turn.

Safety is our priority, and we believe these improvements will make it safer for our students and others.