When a new year of college starts back up, it’s easy to get lost in the excitement of the new semester. But while preparing for a busy year of studies, extracurricular activities, and socializing, it is important to keep your everyday safety in mind. According to the US Department of Education, there were a total of 38,309 crimes reported on over 10,500 campuses across the country in 2022—a really daunting number. However, if you have a few strategies up your sleeve, it will be much easier to keep yourself safe while in college.
1. Know how to reach campus security
All colleges and universities have police or security officers whose job is to maintain a safe environment on campus. They mainly patrol the institution, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity, but they also investigate various cases that happen on campus and are available to escort students around campus at night. If you have witnessed or been the victim of a crime, they are among the first who should be notified to take action. Therefore, you should know the different ways to contact them, including their phone number and office location. Whether or not you ever need campus security, it is vital to have that information on hand.
Related: An Important Guide to Student Safety and Support on Campus
2. Use the buddy system
There's a reason people say there’s safety in numbers. If you go out at night, whether to a party or the library, it's a lot better to go in a group. You're less likely to be the victim of a crime when surrounded by friends, plus it's easier to feel safe and at ease with them. If you go to a party and are drinking (which you should only do if you are 21 or over), you should also have a designated driver, which not only prevents accidents but can keep you out of legal trouble too. You can keep an eye out for each other in a group as well, making sure you drink responsibly and stay away from any dangerous stuff that might be going on, including underage drinking or the use of illegal narcotics.
3. Remember party safety
Chances are that sometime in your college experience, you are going to go to a few parties—and you're definitely going to have fun. But it's super important to know how to be responsible and safe throughout the party. Again, if you go drinking, you should be 21. If you decide to drink at a party, there are a couple of things to know. Most importantly, if you ever feel uncomfortable at a party, it is okay to leave. No one is going to be upset, and your safety is always the most important.
If you do stay and have a good time, do not accept drinks from strangers. Always get your drinks yourself, because that almost completely eliminates the chance of someone slipping something into your drink. Otherwise, be sure to only take drinks from people you trust, and never leave your drink unattended. And please, stay away from drugs. Not only are most illegal, but they can have horrible repercussions for your health.
Related: Urgent Do's and Don'ts for Safe College Partying
Please, keep all of this in mind while preparing for college each year. Being safe is going to make enjoying campus life a lot better. And if you have been the victim of a crime, please notify your security officers as soon as possible and surround yourself with people who support you.
