Schools continue to advance their security and campus safety protocols when looking for measures that enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Yet, according to a recent study statistics, about thirty percent of campus students claim that they don’t have any safety concerns. In comparison, the other seventy percent report that they have a range of safety concerns.
Although students have a personal responsibility for their safety, either their college or some reasons behind applying for an internship, creating students’ awareness of the safety risks and ensuring they can access tools to help them keep safe is vital for preparing them. Here is a complete guide to safety on campus for college students.
Why Is Campus Safety So Important For Students?
Having security guards and campus safety provides a safe environment for students. Campus safety ensures that the students feel safe and comfortable studying and having fun as they please without fear. Safe campus is of utmost importance in attracting students to the college and keeping their life stress-free.
Important Campus Safety Tips
When many people gather in one place, in this case, on campus, there is a high probability of criminal activities.
Following campus safety measures such as safe college partying practices can help minimize adverse outcomes and reduce the risks of being a victim of crime.
Here are some common campus safety tips to enable you to stay safe and still have fun:
1. Undertake a Self-Defense Class
When it comes to your safety or staying fit for college, training on various self-defense tactics can increase your odds of defending yourself from an attacker. Many schools provide these self-defense classes for free or for credit.
2. Know Your Way Around Campus
One important safety tip is knowing your way around the campus. You can do these by downloading a campus map and strolling around the campus and faculty during the day.
3. Use locks
Another safety tip is ensuring you always lock your apartment or dormitory room. Also, remember always to lock the doors of your vehicles and keep all your valuable things out of sight.
4. Know Where the Campus’s Emergency Systems Are Located
Look out for the emergency alarms and phones on the campus so that you are aware of their locations.
In case of any safety concern and you don’t have your phone or have a flat battery, you can contact the public safety offices conveniently using these emergency phones.
5. Consider Carrying a Pepper Spray and Whistle
When around campus, especially at night, you should consider having a personal defense option such as a pepper spray or whistle. This will help you to alert a passerby in case of trouble or even stop an attack.
6. Avoid Drinking Too Much
Taking excess alcohol can deter your decision-making, resulting in bad decisions that place you in dangerous and challenging situations.
For example, if you want to party and drink some alcohol, you should not take a drink offered by someone you don’t know or trust.
7. Always Have Emergency Contacts on Your Phone
Ensure you save emergency contacts into your phone, including the college safety office. This will ensure you won’t have to search for these contacts during an emergency.
What to Do If You are the Victim of a Campus Crime?
While many students go through their entire college years without any safety incident, some become victims of college crime.
Whether you or your friend are victims of sexual or physical assault or property crime, understanding what you should do in these circumstances can enable you to get help.
These include;
Call 911 and carefully follow the instructions: if you are in trouble, dial 911 immediately. The dispatcher will give you appropriate instructions on the course of action until the emergency personnel or police arrive.
Get to a safe place: if possible, you should go to a well-populated and well-lit area to prevent more escalation of the situation. Then, stay there until you get help.
Contact a family member or trusted friend: another course of action you should consider is calling a supportive family member or close friend who can help you find safety.
Seek legal advice: if you feel that your rights have been violated and you are the victim, you should contact an attorney to discuss possible legal options to seek justice. You can also consider taking civil protection through a restraining order.
Contact your bank for account robbery: if a robber has hacked or stolen your bank account information or credit cards, call your bank and report it as soon as possible to stop the fraudulent action.
Change the house: if you are a victim of any crime and the perpetrators understand where you live, you should consider changing your home or place of residence.
How to Report a Campus Crime
Recent Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network statistics show that only about twenty percent of female college students, 18 to 24 years, report sexual assaults to law enforcers.
Furthermore, most of them do not report these incidents, including lack of knowledge on what is constituted in sexual assault and the fear of revenge from the perpetrators.
Keep in mind that any form of sexual contact against your will is assault, even if the perpetrator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Reporting a crime helps the student get the support they need. Some of the ways to report a campus crime include;
1. Contact the Police Immediately
If you find yourself in an emergency concerning your safety, the first step should be notifying the police and following up with the college security.
2. Prepare a List of Embezzled Goods
After reporting to the police or campus security, you should make a list of the stolen goods, describe each item appropriately, and hand it to law enforcers to help them identify the property for recovery.
3. Talk With University Officials
Campus students should report any form of crime to the school officials. Most colleges will help the victims with counseling and house relocations and put appropriate measures to prevent the culprit from conducting the crime again.
4. Seek Medical Attention
Most crime victims suffer shock, which makes them fail to understand the physiological and health damage caused.
Therefore, if you are a victim of violent or sexual assault, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible from the nearest medical facility.
5. Seek Guidance and Counseling Services
Finally, campus crime victims, especially those of sexual assault, should go for guidance and counseling. Crime victims often experience long-term emotional scars, and it is best to go for the campus free and confidential counseling sections.
