Personal Safety on a College Campus
SaveThis article outlines some tips and tricks for staying safe on your college campus.
College campuses are not immune to crime. With so many people living in such a small area, it is almost guaranteed that there will be at least some reports of violent and non-violent crimes happening in the area. Although this can sound scary, there is no need to be anxious. Instead, ensure you are prepared and educated to reduce the likelihood of ever being in an unlikely situation. Below I will outline some tips and tricks for staying safe.
Do Research and Educate Yourself
One of the most practical steps you can take toward increasing your personal safety is to become familiar with the crime trends in your community. By assessing what happens in your area, you can better equip yourself to navigate any potential threats. For example, you might see that the largest crime threat on campus is personal belongings being stolen out of vehicles. If you know that this is the most common threat on campus, you can take extra steps to ensure your vehicle is always secure and that you do not leave expensive or meaningful items in your car. One way to stay current on this information is to sign up for campus safety alerts or download a local crime app.
Increase Your Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is “the use of the sensory system to scan the environment with the purpose of identifying threats in the present or projecting those threats into the future.” In simple terms, situational awareness is paying attention to your surroundings, so you know what is going on and can mitigate threats as needed. We are all guilty of walking around immersed in our phones, with music blasting through our headphones and no understanding of what is happening around us. This can leave you vulnerable to victimization. You must constantly scan your environment to see what is around you, have a plan for navigating potentially harmful situations, and speak up when something feels off.
Set Yourself Up for Success
You can do many things to set yourself up for success if an issue arises. Taking self-defense classes is always a good idea. Not only can they be good exercise, but they also give you some tools to protect yourself if something happens. Many campuses offer classes such as these. You can also stock up on safety supplies. If you cannot avoid situations such as walking by yourself later at night, make sure you have safety supplies such as pepper spray, a panic button, a self- defense tool, etc. Make sure that anything you purchase can be carried around the college campus. Finally, become familiar with campus safety and the services they offer. It is always important to know the campus safety number to call if something happens or if you see something you need to report.
Other Tips
Make sure you are constantly securing your belongings. As mentioned above, lock your car and do not leave valuables visible. Lock up your bike with a secure lock, or bring it inside if you can. Do not leave your items unattended around campus, even if you just run to the bathroom quickly. If you do not have a friend to watch your stuff, bring it with you even if it seems inconvenient. Avoid staying out after dark. If you must, walk in well-lit areas and let someone know where you are going. In addition, try to use the buddy system as much as possible.
On that note, if you have agreed to accompany a friend somewhere, such as a party, do not leave them behind, no matter what! Be careful on social media. In the age of technology, there is an increased amount of online thieves who might want to steal your information. In addition, predators use the internet to stock potential victims. Make sure your social media is set to private, and when you post, make sure you are not accidentally sharing information such as where you live. Finally, when you get in your vehicle, do not stay there sitting on your phone for long periods of time. Instead, hop in and head to your next destination right away.
After reading this article, you might feel anxious or even scared to go around the campus. This is not my intention, and I still encourage everyone to go out and have fun. In fact, by understanding what is happening around you and having a healthy level of Awareness and preparedness, you are setting yourself up to stay safe, lessening the chance that you will become victimized.
Samantha Bockoven
Samantha Bockoven graduated from Villanova University in 2019 with a degree in Peace and Justice and a minor in Global Health. She went on to get her master’s in public health with a concentration in disaster health and emergency preparedness. Since then, she has worked in a variety of public health jobs in the United States and around the world.Articles & Advice
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