Law and Order Special Victims Unit has been my favorite show for years now, and without even realizing it I have learned some very valuable lessons.

Of course, the show has added drama and storylines, but the messages of each episode are very real. For anyone who has yet to see the show, it has been on since 1999 and it takes place in New York City where the detectives investigate sexual assault and related heinous crimes. Each episode has a new plot, with a new victim and a new suspect.

Seeing so many people get hurt by strangers, people they know, and people that they love sends a very strong message to viewers. It’s important to be careful and protect yourself.

As a female college student, I know the statistics of sexual assault among my demographic. 1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted or harassed, and it is very common for victims to be assaulted by someone that they know. Additionally, 1 in 6 men is sexually abused prior to the age of 18.

Watching Detective Olivia Benson and her team investigate these crimes, I’ve learned a few helpful tips to protect myself in certain situations. Although they may seem obvious, they are quite important. I’ve learned never to walk alone.

Walking in groups, especially groups with guys in them helps to deflect potential attackers as they tend to prey on people who walk alone. Don’t take drinks from anyone if you didn’t see them pour it. We hear this one all the time, especially as college students. There are so many awful substances that people can drug other people with, and often times these drugs wipe out memory leaving the victim with amnesia.

Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t take shortcuts through sketchy alleys or tunnels if you don’t have to, and always try to take well-lit and populated streets. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t right, so try to get out of any situation that makes your stomach churn.

Law and Order SVU, while being a great show, allows people to see what happens to victims and spreads important messages about sexual assault and harassment. Some episodes are very scary, as they all are made to be so real, but it is important to understand that the producer is giving everyone insight into the truths of what can really happen.

Unfortunately, these heinous crimes really do happen every day, and college women are often targeted.

Oftentimes on commercial breaks, the cast of the show is shown in the ‘No More Excuses’ campaign which was created to say ‘no more’ to domestic violence and sexual assault.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and anyone who would like to pledge to end domestic violence and sexual assault can participate via nomore.org. The cast of Law and Order SVU promotes the No More campaign to further send their message to viewers.

The mission statement of the No More campaign is, “together we can end domestic violence and sexual assault”.

The matters depicted on Law and Order SVU are very serious, and are all too real to too many people. The important take away from the show is to learn what you can and be a resource for anyone who may need it. You never know who has struggled with these matters, but if someone opens up to you it is important to be able to listen.

There are so many survivors out there who are afraid to speak up, as shown multiple times on the show, and many of these crimes go unreported. Unfortunately there are too many cases that go unsolved and unreported that many survivors and victims are unable to get justice.

I learned from Law and Order Special Victims Unit to protect myself and be aware of my surroundings, but I also learned that you can’t live in fear of sexual assault or harassment.