Rice University celebrated National Night Out Oct. 1 in the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center courtyard. Many campus organizations like Rice Emergency Medical Services, the Wellbeing and Counseling Center and the Rice Police Department were joined by the Houston Police Department to welcome hundreds of Owls and community members for food, games and to learn about the many resources provided by the attending groups.
Adding to the festivities was a “dunk-a-cop” booth, which was a popular draw that left several police officers soaking wet. The activities also included a caricature artist and the chance for younger members of the crowd to see how the police car’s dashboard works complete with active flashing lights and sirens.
National Night Out began in 1984 to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie as well as to send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
For anyone interested in getting involved beyond National Night Out, the Glenda Gordy Research Center tracks crime trends and related data, so community members can easily see how crime is affecting their neighborhood. Utilize the interactive dashboard to view crime trends and learn more about the roles and responsibility of our criminal justice system in an easy, attainable way.
