Crime is everywhere. When the four inside walls of a dorm room become home to students, they are captured inside a bubble. This safe haven disguised as a college campus, makes them feel invincible. As a student, it is important to not be wrapped up in the four walls of your campus, that you are blind to the face of danger. Studies show that people ages 18-26, are more susceptible to violence because they are less aware of their surroundings (safercampus.org). As a student who is constantly thinking about the next project or paper due, it is important to be aware of the crimes taking place in your city. This will keep you from being involved in the next act of violence. Here are a few tips to keep oneself and peers on your campus safe.
1. Never Travel Alone
It is a great feeling to be independent and on your own. Students on college campuses are usually always excited to be out of the house, and mom and dad’s rules. Even though you are independent, that does not mean you have to travel alone. Two heads are better than one, and even more are better than two. When traveling through the city or having a night out in the town, have at least one person go with you. It is easier to attack a person who is alone. Studies show that people who travel in groups are less susceptible to violence (safercampus.org). Most students love to take study breaks, so if you need to run errands have a group of friends come with you.
2. If you have to travel alone, surround yourself in highly populated areas
A test or project, even work can hinder a buddy who is usually available, to pass on particular outings. If the task at hand is really important and you can't wait till a friend is available, take a traveling route that is highly populated. If you are walking during night do not take a dark alley or a vacant short cut. Go through highly populated areas where they are lots of people around. When traveling alone, transportation systems are recommended over walking. Those systems include buses, subways, and cars.
3. Carry Pepper spray
It may sound kind of risky, even extreme, but people who carry pepper spray are less likely to be attacked or preyed on (safercampus.org). It's a defense mechanism that can do a lot of damage to the person on the receiving end. They can be bought at local grocery stores for very cheap prices. Some are really big, while others are small enough to fit on a key chain. Having this form of protection does not mean you’re looking for trouble, but it lets those around you know not to bring any to you. Plus carrying pepper spray is legal where guns and knives have legality issues.
4. Report suspicious behavior
If you are enjoying a nice night out with friends, even on campus, and see something fishy? Report it. There is information on students who have saw suspicious people or unusual behavior being done failed to report and were later apart of or victims of violence acts of crime(safercampus.org). It is normal to come across weird people while out at night especially at parties, but it is important to be able to discern weird behavior from suspicious actions. Always have or be around someone who has a cell phone. In case you need to dial the three magic numbers (911). Also notify security, most buildings have security guards around to help keep order.
5. Say no if you don't feel comfortable
It's okay to say no if you do not want to go to a certain place or feel uncomfortable. If everyone else is going out and partying a student generally wants to do it also. But if your friends are going in a certain area of town that you’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable with, don’t go. It is always great to try new things but if you have a bad feeling, that feeling is usually correct. Just stay on campus that night. You probably need to study anyway, and if not, participate in an on campus activity. There are always campus activities going on for students to get involved in. Overall use your intuition, because in the long run, it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you want anymore information about ways to stay in college check out the following websites:
www.safercampus.org
www.collegesafetyzone.com
-Raenosa Hudnell
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