In a previous article, we talked about ways to help our college students prepare for emergencies while living on campus. But there is one other source of threat they need to be prepared for. Students entering college for the first time may not be aware of the risk of being a victim of campus crime until it happens. Even a naturally cautious student may drop his or her guard because they feel secure in the school environment. Unfortunately, crime still happens. Many crimes involve theft, rape and even murder. The following article gives some great tips to stay safe without becoming paranoid.
8 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe on Campus
Written by Mary Walton
College is such a diverse place, and with over 20 million students attending every single year, it’s just a matter of statistics that crime is going to take place. Whether you’ve been attending college some a couple of years or you’re completely new to the whole college experience; it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement that college brings.
Although rare, things like dorm or college theft and sometimes even assaults do happen, and it could happen to anyone. However, there’s a couple of things you can do to help look after yourself and to keep yourself out of trouble. Today, we’ll explore eight things to remember that can help make your college experience the best.
Get to Know Your Campus
Not all campus perpetrators are from the college. Some people will come to the campus just because they know that most students aren’t aware. Get to know your college campus like the back of your hand, so you always know where you’re going and what lays around the corner.
Be Careful at Night
This rule should be applied no matter where you are, what you’re doing or who you’re with. As you can expect, nighttime brings about darkness, and it’s very easy not to see things that are going on in the shadows. Crimes like assaults and sexual assaults are more likely to happen at night so take extra care and stick to well-lit areas.
Stuart Richards, an educational expert for Boom Essays and Essay Roo, explains;
“At night, it’s always best to stick together with friends, especially if you’re heading off campus into your town or city. Even if you’re only popping down the road to a shop, groups of two or three are always better than going alone.”
Always Lock Your Door
This should really go without saying, but if you don’t lock your dorm room door, you’re just making it incredibly easy for a burglar to come in and take your things. You’re also opening up your dorm to college pranksters, so it’s just worth getting into the habit of locking your door during your first few weeks. Don’t forget to double check it!
Get to Know Your Campus Security
You never know what’s going to happen. You might be the victim of a mugging or assault, or you might witness it happening to someone else. If you don’t know the security procedures of your campus, what are you going to do?
Within your first few days at college, make sure you get to know these procedures so you can act instinctively should the need arise.
Elizabeth Mayer, a college counsellor for UK Writings, continues;
“Every campus will have its own security office and its own security procedures that will need to be followed. As you start college for the first time or a new term, get yourself familiar with this system, so you know exactly what to do in an emergency.”
Learn to Defend Yourself
The chances are that your college has a self-defense class running, such as Tai-Kwon-Do or Karate. By partaking in one of these classes, you’ll be able to feel a lot safer as you walk around campus and you’ll feel a lot more confident in your abilities to protect yourself should an event like that ever take place.
Keep Your Phone Charged
Smartphones are a love-hate relationship for many people, but they can be a tool that could save you or another person’s life. Nowadays, payphones are few and far between so what happens if you’re out and about either around campus or in the city and you witness a crime, how are you going to call the police?
Always try and keep a charged phone with you while you’re out and about.
Be Aware, Not Paranoid
There’s a difference between being paranoid everywhere you go and be suspicious of everyone that passes you rather than just being observant and looking out for tell-tale signs. This is called ‘relaxed awareness’ where you need to be smart, keep your eyes open for trouble but don’t overthink the little things that don’t matter.
Speak Your Mind
During college, you might attend many parties or social events, and you’ll probably be introduced to drinking. These are fun environments to be in and will be one of the reasons that college was so special.
However, when at these events, or even just relaxing around campus, if you feel someone is pushing their boundaries or getting too close for comfort, don’t be afraid to speak your mind and tell them that they’re pushing their limits. There’s nothing to scared of, especially if you’re around other people.
About the Author:
Mary Walton is an editor at Australian Write My Essay service. She helps people with business writing and job search. Also, Mary is content proofreader at Paper Fellows, website for college students; and blogger at Simple Grad, educational portal.
