Personal safety and Defense classes give you mental and physical preparedness.

Campus Safety

Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night.

Avoid using stairs in remote sections of a building.

Keep personal belongings in view while in class, the library, or lab.

When in an elevator, position yourself next to the controls. Having a stranger in control of the emergency stop switch could be dangerous.

Do not rely on “on campus” crime statistics if you want to learn about crime in the area. “On campus” covers only the classrooms and dorms. It does not include social areas, off campus student apartments, etc. Students spend a majority of their time “off campus” and a high percentage live off campus.

Residence Hall Safety

Lock your doors at all times, even when you are just going next door. Most thefts occur in under one minute.

Never prop doors open, especially fire doors, even for a short time.

Keep cash and jewelry in a locked drawer, cabinet or closet.

Do not allow strangers into your room.

In a residential hall, screaming can sound like partying. In an emergency, be specific by shouting “help,” “police,” or “fire.”

Keep your blinds closed to avoid advertising your life.

Make sure your windows are locked. Use locking sticks.

Do not leave your name on your answering machine.

When in an elevator, position yourself next to the controls. Having a stranger in control of the emergency stop switch could be dangerous.

Apartment Safety

List only initials and last name on mailbox.

Do not list your address in the phone book. The phone company can handle this upon request. Always change locks when moving to a new place. Install solid core/metal outside doors with metal strikes, dead bolts, and peepholes.

Windows are burglars’ second choice. Install safeguards on every window that can be reached from the outside; window pins are easy to install and difficult to remove.

Alarms trumpet the arrival of an intruder. If possible, invest in an alarm with a motion detector.

Have a phone in each room so that help is always within reach.

Keep shrubbery trimmed so as not to provide a cover for a burglar.

If you live off-campus, get a dog! Dogs are great alarms, and most criminals won’t risk a confrontation with a dog of any size.

Don’t open your door to a stranger, including door-to-door salespeople. Verbally answering through the closed door lets them know that the apartment is not empty. If the stranger is wearing a uniform, make them show you identification. If in doubt, have them wait outside while you call their company for verification.

If a stranger asks to use your phone, ask for the number and make the call while they wait outside. Furthermore, if some one dials your number by mistake, do not reveal your phone number, simply advise them to try their number again.

Do not leave a key under a doormat or flower pot, or in the mailbox or the ignition of your parked car. Burglars know all of the hiding places!

Do not carry an identification tag with your address on your key chain.

Leave only your ignition key with a parking attendant or repairman, as they could make a copy of your home key.

Lock doors at all times, even when home.

Leave outside lights on at night and close your curtains. Many rapes are crimes of opportunity. A rapist spots and watches his victim through a lighted window.

At night, when home alone, turn the lights on in several rooms to give the appearance that there are people in several rooms.

Get to know your neighbors. This will make it easier to spot strangers. When leaving your apartment, look around the area outside the apartment before exiting.

Protecting Your Apartment While Away

Statistics show that burglary occurs every 10 seconds, and if the burglar chooses your home instead of the one next door, you probably helped invite them there. To protect yourself, make your home or office look occupied when you are away. Make an investment in good locks, lights, and an alarm system. Here are some specific measures you can take.

Leave a radio set to a talk show station so that conversations can be heard.

Set interior lights on a timer. Turn on outside lights to illuminate possible entry sites.

Have neighbors collect mail and stop newspaper delivery.

Engrave your driver’s license number on all valuables such as TV’s and stereos. This will help police trace them if stolen.

Keep all ladders and tools locked in the garage or storage facility when not in use.

Keep shrubbery trimmed so as not to provide a cover for a burglar.

Do not tell repair personnel that you will be leaving town.

Do not let your answering machine message say that you will be out of town and when you will return.

Install solid core or metal outside doors. Use dead bolts and metal strikes in your doors.

Install secondary locks on all windows.

On the Street

Walk on the part of the sidewalk closest to the street, as far away as possible from shrubs, trees, and doorways.

Stay near people. Whenever possible, appear to be with a group of people.

Stay in well-lit areas.

Avoid short cuts through parks, vacant lots, woods, alleys and other deserted areas. Stay away from public parks at night.

Walk at a steady pace; appear confident and purposeful. An attacker expects a passive victim, so if you walk slowly, you will seem vulnerable to an attack.

Be alert to what is around you, listening for footsteps and voices nearby.

If you think you are being followed, don’t go home! Head for the nearest populated and lighted place. Change your pace; if the person changes pace to stay behind you, cross the street, get to lighted areas, draw attention to yourself and seek help. If possible, step into a nearby store or walk to a crowded area such as a bus stop.

When being followed by a vehicle, quickly turn around and walk in the opposite direction.

Keep more than an arm's distance from vehicles, even if they are only asking for directions.

Never hitchhike. Never! Once you’re alone in a car with a stranger, you’ve lost control of the situation. Never get into a stranger’s vehicle, even if your car breaks down. Stay in your locked vehicle, ask the stranger to stop and call the police, or a wrecker service, to come and help you.

Do not go out at night alone. If you are alone, stay away from shopping malls, convenience stores and grocery store parking lots. If you must go, don’t walk into the parking lot alone. Have a security guard escort you or follow closely behind someone else.

After being out on the town, ask a friend, or a bar or restaurant employee to walk you to your car.

When returning to your car, be alert to anyone under or around your car and look inside before getting in.

Exercise Safety

Never exercise alone at night outdoors. Exercise with a friend.

Avoid unpopulated areas, such as woods and deserted campuses.

Carry a personal safety device, such as a sound siren, mace or red pepper gas.