Dear SafeHorns Community,
Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on all that we accomplished together in 2024. SafeHorns has made remarkable progress in advocating for student safety and building a stronger community around the University of Texas. From hosting impactful events to raising awareness of critical safety issues, these achievements wouldn’t have been possible without your continued support.
In this first newsletter, we’ll revisit the milestones reached, the initiatives championed, and the moments that defined 2024. Your dedication to our mission has been instrumental in making a real difference, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this incredible community.
Let’s carry this momentum into 2025 as we continue to "Take Safety by the Horns" and work toward even greater impact.
Warm regards,
Joell McNew
President, SafeHorns
President Hartzell & Chief Henderson Recognized for Community Impact
At our 8th Annual West Campus National Night Out (NNO), we were honored to present President Hartzell and APD Interim Chief Henderson with our Community Impact Award. Both recipients attended in person to accept this meaningful recognition, which reflects their significant contributions to improving safety and fostering a stronger community.
The award, a glass flame, symbolizes remembrance and resilience. It is inspired by Haruka Weiser and the name her family gave her after her passing, Bright Faith. This tribute serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of our shared mission to create a safer environment for all.
Thank You Students, Safety Partners & Volunteers
We want to take a moment to thank everyone who made our 8th Annual West Campus National Night Out such a success. From the students who joined us, to the safety partners who tabled and shared invaluable resources, to the amazing volunteers who gave their time—your energy and dedication made the evening truly special.
Together, we created opportunities to connect, learn, and foster a stronger sense of community. This event showcased what we can achieve when we work collectively to prioritize safety and support. Thank you for helping make it all possible!
SafeHorns Place: A New Hub for Safety and Community
This year, SafeHorns proudly opened the doors to SafeHorns Place, a welcoming space dedicated to fostering safety and community engagement. Throughout the year, we’ve hosted impactful events like self-defense classes, the Sip Safely drink spiking awareness program, and an open house during New Student Orientation Week to connect with incoming Longhorns.
During rush week, SafeHorns Place became a haven from the Texas heat, serving as a cooling station where students could recharge in a safe and welcoming environment. We also partnered with the Longhorn Handball Club to engage students on the go, handing out donuts and safety resource bag tags. These interactions not only provided a moment of connection but also equipped students with practical tools to stay informed and safe. SafeHorns Place is more than just a space; it’s a testament to what we can achieve together. We look forward to expanding its use and impact in the coming year!
Make SafeHorns Place YOUR Space!
SafeHorns Place is here for YOU! UT students are welcome to use the space in West Campus (off West 23rd St in the basement of Congregational Church of Austin next to the Artist Market) for club meetings, organization activities, crafting sessions, and more. It’s also the perfect spot for hosting self-defense classes or collaborating with the City of Austin to bring a Sip Safely event to West Campus, raising awareness about drink spiking prevention.
Interested? Reach out to us to reserve SafeHorns Place for your next activity! Email president@safehorns.org.
SafeHorns Advocacy Pays Off with APD Contract Vote
Thank you to all SafeHorns members who emailed the Austin City Council in support of the Austin Police Department contract—your efforts made a difference!
Thanks to community advocacy, including your participation, the Council approved the contract with a 10-1 vote. Unfortunately, District 9 Council Member Zo Qadri, representing UT and West Campus, voted against it.
This contract is a critical step toward improving public safety on campus and in nearby neighborhoods. A fully staffed and supported police department is vital for creating a safer environment for everyone.
We’re especially proud of SafeHorns President Joell McNew, who gave powerful testimony at the Council work session. Your engagement shows the power of teamwork, but the work isn’t over. Future calls to action—like emailing officials, signing petitions, and raising awareness—will need your support. Let’s keep up the momentum and continue making a difference. Together, we can take safety by the horns!
Spotlight on Our Safety Partners
At this year’s SafeHorns National Night Out, we were proud to collaborate with an incredible lineup of UT and community safety partners who provided invaluable safety tips, resources and crime prevention strategies. These organizations brought their expertise and resources to connect directly with students and attendees:
You Delivered For National Night Out!
When we called for cash and product donations to make National Night Out unforgettable, YOU answered in a big way! Thanks to your generosity, we offered an incredible array of prizes—ACL tickets, Yeti coolers, Kendra Scott jewelry, LoveShackFancy items, a Criquet polo shirt, video projector, gift cards to Loro and Olamaie, Longhorn themed items, and so much more.
These amazing raffle and pong game prizes brought in a record number of student attendees (over 250!), making this year’s event our most successful yet. Thank you for your support in creating such an unforgettable evening!
Student Organizations & Performers at NNO
This year, we were thrilled to welcome student organizations and performers to National Night Out! For the first time, clubs and teams participated by promoting our event and volunteering, and in return, they had the opportunity to recruit members and share their missions with attendees.
UT indie/pop artist Martin Leon performed, energizing the crowd. The UT student a cappella group, The Ransom Notes, also delivered a heartfelt performance. In a touching moment, they performed Harrison Brown’s audition song, “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant, honoring their former member who was tragically killed on campus in 2017.
We were proud to host the Texas Men’s Hockey Team, who brought an interactive puck-shooting game, promoted their game schedule, and generously donated a team jersey as a raffle prize. The Lang Stuttering Institute Student Leadership Organization (LSI SLO) educated attendees about stuttering misconceptions and handed out water bottles. Always Texas also played a vital role by volunteering to help make the event a success.
New Executive Board
SafeHorns is proud to announce the new executive board for 2025, which includes a mix of returning and new members, all dedicated to advocating for the safety of students in and around the University of Texas at Austin campus. Joell McNew continues in her role as President, Tonya Clark remains as Secretary, and we welcome two new officers: Farah Metzger as Vice President and Jan Xie as Treasurer.
The new board builds on the strong foundation established by the previous leadership team, which included Carla George as Vice President and Kell Willard as Treasurer. We cannot thank Carla George enough for her time, talent, Longhorn spirit and many contributions to our group as VP. We also thank Kell Williard for stepping up as Treasurer and making sure we have all our ducks in a row, funding, compliance and organization. Their commitment to student safety and community engagement has left an indelible mark on SafeHorns, and we are excited to carry their work forward. Read the full press release.
WANTED: SafeHorns Student Rep
Are you a current UT student looking to get community service hours? Do you want to get more involved at UT? Consider being a SafeHorns Student Rep! A SafeHorns Student Rep is a student directly involved with SafeHorns, advocating for safety on/around campus. You will provide a student perspective on issues, help recruit other students, promote SafeHorns and our events/workshops, provide social media content, brainstorm ideas on how to recruit more student followers, and more! If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please email Joell McNew at president@safehorns.org.
New SafeHorns Sponsorship Program
Learn about our new National Night Out Sponsorship Program by downloading the 2024 program below. Then, be on the lookout later this year for how you, your business, or workplace can participate in our 9th annual National Night Out!
A big shout-out to the businesses that generously donated food, treats, and drinks for our National Night Out: Clean Cause, Dollar Slice Club (Dollar Eats), Poppi, Potbelly, Roppolo’s Pizzeria West Campus, Shipley Do-Nuts, and Sweetgreen. Thank you for making the event even more special!
Who Is SafeHorns?
SafeHorns is a dedicated advocacy group founded and led by parents of University of Texas at Austin students, united by a shared commitment to improving public safety on and around the UT Austin campus and nearby student neighborhoods. Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in the place they call home, both on the Forty Acres and beyond.
We tirelessly advocate for meaningful safety solutions, push for increased protections, and raise awareness about critical issues where it matters most. SafeHorns is a proactive force, working to prevent dangers, solve problems, and create a safer community for all.
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