On Jan. 9, 2026, students’ emails buzzed at 1:58 p.m. In their inbox, there was a message from Wayne Martin, the Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) safety coordinator. Martin sent this email as a follow-up to the one sent on Jan. 8, 2026, which welcomed students back to campus. Both emails highlighted important safety concerns that the safety team would like to see implemented.
In the first email, the subject line emphasized the importance of parking normally. Martin noted that the staff has taken notice of the innovation used while parking on campus, and they appreciate the gumption shown, but “we [the safety team] do need to tighten up enforcement.” The safety staff will be looking for people to park in authorized areas only and discourage anyone from parking in a certain area, even for “just five minutes.”
As for ID cards, Martin said that once your student ID is reported lost it will no longer have access to residence halls, classrooms, or other controlled spaces. “Even if you find your previously ‘lost’ card under the car seat, inside last semester’s coat, or in the mysterious void behind your dresser—it is now deactivated,” Martin wrote. But he also provided a solution for the “found-but-now-useless card,” which is to take it to the IT Helpdesk, located beneath the library, and they will give you a functional card.
The second email sent out carried a more serious message and thus more serious repercussions as well. Martin encouraged everyone to heed the speed limits on campus. We are to do “5 mph in parking lots […], 15 mph on campus streets, 25 mph on adjacent streets.” The next warned students who may park in the wrong parking lot. Martin said that there are certain colors to correspond with where your vehicle should be parked. “C (Red Dot) = Commuter students, R (Blue Dot) = Resident students, F/S (Green Dot) = Faculty and Staff,” Martin wrote. Students who love to park next to Roselawn in the Faculty parking lot may want to think twice from now on, because parking there could result in a ticket. Parking in handicap, fire lanes, or service vehicle spots also could earn students an expensive golden ticket. “Towing is still an option, especially if you accumulate three or more tickets,” Martin warned.
EMU’s safety team also discourages any “spinning wheels [or] squealing tires, doing doughnuts in parking lots, other driving behaviors that show a failure to maintain control, [or] failing to yield to pedestrians” (originally sent as a bulleted list). Due to the dangerousness of these activities, Martin advises against these actions because the staff may have to involve the Harrisonburg Police Department.
College is meant to be an entertaining time where students can have fun, but they should be doing that safely and considering others while doing so. Remember to be mindful of how you are affecting others, and take the time to notify campus security if you see someone making the campus unsafe. Welcome back, students, and enjoy the spring semester of 2026 safely!
