College brings its own set of rules to how things function. College is basically a huge sleepover with all your friends, enemies and complete strangers, filled with partying and hanging out with each other. Though with this it also brings up safety concerns, this being mostly towards women. So here are a few rules for the road on the dos and don'ts of college if you are a female.
Rule 1...Never go alone anywhere, no matter what.
If you need to go to your car or across campus, take a friend, and if you cannot get in touch with a friend call campus safety. I know that seems like bothering them, or to much but it’s not. It’s their jobs to make you as a student feel safe. Going alone makes a person vulnerable, and with campus rules you are not aloud to have anything to protect you, because it is harmful to other students. This means pocket knives, tasers, and even pepper sprays are not permitted on campus Though you are not able to carry these you can carry keys. Take three keys and slide them in between your knuckles, this will create a makeshift knuckles almost. When you swing at an attacker the keys will cut into the person. This still can only do so much though, so the safest way to travel is with a group!
Rule 2...Never put your drink down at a party
This one is an oldie but a goodie. Drinks are spiked and date rape pills are used at campus parties, even if your college has low rape rates watch out...they are still there. Never accept a drink from someone either. The best tip is to bring your own and keep a sealed top on it. How do you know if there is something in your drink? Well here are a few symptoms,lowered inhibitions, difficulty concentrating or speaking, loss of balance and finding it hard to move, visual problems, particularly blurred vision,memory loss (amnesia) or "blackouts" feeling confused or disorientated, particularly after waking up (if you've been asleep), paranoia (a feeling of fear or distrust of others), hallucinations (seeing, hearing or touching things that aren't there) or having an "out of body" experience, nausea and vomiting, unconsciousness. If you have any of these symptoms notify someone you trust (a close friend, relative, doctor, or police officer).
Rule 3...When a man says “Hey let’s go for a walk” He’s not actually talking about a walk…
This is a common saying for, “hey let’s fuck.” Morbid I know, but it’s true. No guy usually wants to go on a walk and talk when intoxicated. There is only one thing on their minds and usually on the your mind too. Make sure that is something you want to do though, you can tell him no but if you’re to intoxicated to say no then it’s rape. This goes back to a buddy system, your designate will know if you are to out of it to consent to anything. Go to them, tell them the situation. This way if you really do want to hook up with them someone will also know where you are, and if you are just too intoxicated your designate will keep you safe and take you back to your dorm.
Rule 4...Tell them what you mean.
If you do not want to do anything with a boy, tell them. I don’t care if they are strangers, coworkers, students, or your best friends. No means no and they should respect that. Do not try to salvage their feelings you look them up and down and say no. If that does not work tell them you are calling campus safety, if they still don’t back off then do it, call safety. If you say no and they keep trying to pressure you into having sex that is harassment and honey you do not need that in your life. Your body is yours and you do not need to give it to anyone. Don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you don’t want to do.
Rule 5...Lock your door.
You may be wondering why something so simple is even being put on here, but let me tell you this is what causes the most problems. I have a friend who was intoxicated and was safe in her bed but a boy just walked into her room and raped her. She was supposed to be protected, she did all the right things she did not leave with anyone, didn’t take a drink from others, she stayed in her own room but because she did not lock her door her space was invaded. Switching to another story a girl I know did not lock her door and one of her “friends” came in. She did not think anything of it because they were supposed to be close but he took advantage of her. The door being open was seen as an invitation so again this may seem so simple and almost mundane but remember this...keep it locked.
So stay safe ladies and have the time of your lives! College is meant to be the best years of your life, and hopefully with these tips it’ll help. College is an amazing experience and being a woman should not make that any less!
