Campus Crime Has Students Concerned

The recent murders of a pair of college co-eds who attended Auburn and UNC-Chapel Hill universities has caused some car theft students to be concerned about their safety on and around their college campuses. Couple that news with the massacres on the campuses of Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois universities within the past year, and college doesn’t seem to be the safe place that many have imagined it to be.

Unfortunately, campus crime has always been an issue — a topic that sometimes gets buried in the news especially when petty larceny or even sexual assault cases are reported, if they are reported at all. In the past, some schools covered up incidents in a bid to play down concerns about campus security, a move that resulted in the Jeanne Clery Act. This particular legislation requires that colleges report crime and make this information widely available.

Avoid Crime; Do Not Become A Statistic

Plenty of crime prevention organizations and advocacy groups offer tip on how to avoid crime which include the following:

Do Not Travel Alone — A short trip across the campus quad from your dorm to the library can seem harmless, but at night it can be downright dangerous, no matter how well lit the area may be. Traveling alone makes you an easier target for assailants.

Know Your Surroundings — You may have walked the same route dozens of times which can lead to complacency. Always stay alert, looking for anything that is out of the ordinary.

Look In Your Car — Before unlocking your car, look in the back seat and underneath as those are places where assailants will usually hide.

Carry Your Cell Phone — Carry your cell phone in your hand instead of leaving it in your purse or bag. If an emergency takes place, you can call for help immediately.

Do Not Enter — If upon returning from classes or your library you find that your dorm room is open, do not go inside. Contact campus security immediately and have someone check out your room before entering.

If your school hasn’t installed a campus-wide security system to notify you of a security breach via cell phone and email, speak up and ask that the administration create a plan to protect its students and faculty members. If you aren’t getting the desired response, contact the school newspaper to air your concerns.

Criminal activity cannot be thwarted completely, but you can lessen the chances that you’ll be a victim by being aware of your surroundings and always being on the alert.