College campuses can be overwhelming and scary to people who are not used to a big city. As a college student, it feels like every day there is a new headline about violence or robbery near me. Regardless of how scary the world is getting, college is still necessary, so it is beneficial to learn how to stay safe. Especially with the recent influx of on-campus crime at FSU, everyone could learn these simple ways to be a little safer around campus.
Never travel anywhere alone.
While this might be a no-brainer, it is important to keep in mind. No matter how short of a distance you are going, find a buddy! It will give you peace of mind, as well as having an extra witness or protector if something happens to you.
Never walk around campus with your hands full.
Especially at night or in dangerous parts of town, try to avoid carrying an excessive amount of bags or groceries. This can lead the attacker to thinking that you are defenseless and unable to stop him/her if they try to steal from you.
Look up from your phone.
Lots of attacks can happen when someone is looking down at their cell phone or unaware of their surroundings. Making sure you are looking up and appearing aware is crucial to ensuring your safety.
Don't be defenseless.
While college campuses might not allow you to carry weapons with you, arm yourself with what you can! Whether you have a bedazzled pepper spray or you stick your keys between your fingers, anything can be helpful if you find yourself face-to-face with an attacker.
Try to avoid walking at night/early morning.
This can be difficult if you have classes at night or meetings in the evening, but it is helpful to stay in well-lit areas at all times. Not only is an attacker less likely to attack in broad daylight, but there are also more bystanders around during the hours of the day to stop or witness an attack.
Always tell someone where you are going.
Keeping others in the loop when it comes to your whereabouts can make it easy for someone to find you if something were to happen. For example, if they know you are heading home but you never made it there, they can contact the proper authorities as early as possible.
Download an app!
There are plenty of campus safety apps or cab services that you can utilize in order to make it to your destination safely. Use them! Some of these apps include Noonlight, Panic Button Apps, or any apps that your specific university might provide for you.
The world can be a scary place, so doing all that you can to protect yourself is a must!
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