Home > Opinion > Students, take simple and important steps to stay safe
Students, take simple and important steps to stay safe
It’s not a common occurrence that our safety is questioned while on campus or in the surrounding community, but it is an issue nonetheless. In the last couple weeks, both a robbery at gun point and a rape have occurred in our community. This last weekend there was also an attack at the U of M concerning two males and one female in the dorms as well, according to an e-mail the university issued on Sunday, April 27.
In response to this and other potential dangers, we all need to reassess our daily procedures. Campus safety is something all students need to be conscious of. As students, we all need to take appropriate measures to ensure our safety on campus.
Immediately many of us assume that any acts of violence or harassment on campus only involve females on campus rather than men. This is not true; men are vulnerable to attacks as well.
When students walk alone around or near campus, they’re vulnerable; when students leave their doors unlocked while they’re not in their rooms or apartments, it’s open to anyone. There are several simple and important measures we can take as students to make our lives easier and less prone to danger. When you’re going to park your car, choose a lit area, an area that you know well and can get in and out of easily as well as an area where other people are going to be around. If you park in a remote area with dim or no lighting, this is an easy place for someone to either attack or harass you.
Additionally, if you know that you’re walking to an area that does not have sufficient lighting, contact Safe Walk and ask someone to walk with you. The reason they’re on campus is to ensure you make it to your destination safely. They know that there are places on campus that people need to get to without worrying about whether or not they’ll be safe when they get there. At the very least, please have someone you know, a roommate, a classmate or a resident advisor walk with you. It will take only five minutes out of their schedule to allow you to feel comfortable and safe while walking to your car or wherever you need to travel.
Keep friends nearby to help make conscious and intelligent decisions for or with you. If you’re intoxicated, it’s 1 a.m. and you need to get back up the hill to campus before your exam in the morning, then you’re not in the right state of mind to make an intelligent decision. Students often make decisions by themselves to walk up the hill to campus, both alone and intoxicated. It’s important to note that we share this community, and that it’s not only students who will be around or who will be threatened.
Without taking simple and important steps, you’re only leaving yourself vulnerable. If you’re a student or faculty member and you see a peer that is about to put themselves, or are currently placing themselves, in danger through whichever events they partake in, let them know. Save them the pain and trouble of a potential attack.
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