10/29/2023
Hi, it's almost Halloween, fun times dressing up and enjoying the campus experience. Here are tips about being safe on campus from forbes.com below. Are you in need of student loans? You can always contact us at www.nationaleducation.com.
5 Tips for Safety on Campus
1. Choose Your Friends Wisely
Michael Dorn is the executive director of Safe Havens International, a nonprofit that promotes campus safety, and is a former college police officer. He recalls many campus tragedies when a student was hurt, arrested or even killed because they were hanging around with “reckless” friends.
“Remember that true friends will never intentionally put you at risk,” Dorn says, “or ask you to do something dangerous or that could result in you being sent to jail.”
Dorn doubles down on this advice when it comes to picking your romantic partners.
“Toxic people can endanger your safety in many ways,” he says. “Someone who really cares about you will not put your safety at risk and will not physically harm you.”
Jessica Mertz, executive director of the Clery Center, a nonprofit that helps colleges and universities improve campus safety, notes that some of the most serious threats to students’ safety come from people they know and trust.
“This includes sexual assault and stalking as well as hazing incidents, which often go unrecognized and unreported, but have a serious impact on a student’s educational experience,” Mertz says.
2. Be Careful at Your Dorm Entrance
Frank Pisciotta, founder and president of Business Protection Specialists, a provider of security consulting services, advises against letting anyone you don’t know follow you into a residence hall when the doors are secured. If a stranger is lingering near the entrance, use a different entrance if possible, he says. And if a stranger tries to follow you inside, stop them and inform them about the correct protocols.
“In cases where visitors need to be signed in and verified by the host, do not vouch for someone you do not know to be helpful to get them admitted to a residence hall,” Pisciotta says. “In one case, several individuals who were involved in a gang r**e were reported to have been admitted this way.”
Pisciotta adds that you shouldn’t prop open a door at a residence hall to enable someone to slip in without going through the official check-in process.
3. Know Your Surroundings
It’s wise to get to know the campus and the area where you’re living. Figure out the easiest way to travel to class and other spots like cafeterias and the library.
Explore areas with friends after dark to find areas that are well-lighted. Avoid dark areas that are low-traffic spots at night and don’t go out at night on your own.
Keep your head up and stay vigilant. Don’t get weighed down with books and belongings.
Make sure to carry identification, avoid dark areas, avoid bushes and other places where people may hide, and have your cell phone so you can call for help if needed.
If you find someone following you, cross the street and try to get a good description of the person. If the person continues to follow you, call campus security or the local police.
Mertz recommends signing up for emergency notifications from your school. If an active shooter situation or other dangerous situation occurs, you can be alerted right away—typically by text message—so you can take the proper safety precautions.
4. Lock Your Door
Whether you live on or off the campus, always lock your dorm or apartment door when you’re asleep and when you’re going to be away. This simple step could keep you from being a victim of property crime or violent crime.
Keep in mind that someone entering your dorm or apartment without your permission may not intend to do physical harm but, instead, may want to steal electronics and other valuables.
5. Use Your Mobile Phone Cautiously
When you’re walking across campus, think twice about being glued to your mobile phone.
“While you may do so without a problem several thousand times, doing so at the wrong time and in the wrong place can be extremely dangerous,” Dorn warns. “Violent criminals love a victim who will not notice them in time, and texting while walking can be like swimming in the ocean while holding a bloody fish.”
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