Feeling apprehensive about going away to college is totally normal for the average college freshman. Being away from home for the first time, in charge of your destiny, with multiple new responsibilities and decisions to make; whew, it’s a lot to wrap you head around! In addition, the culture of campus violence which can exist, for women especially, has been highlighted in the media lately, fueling greater anxiety about this major transition for students and parents alike.
Since violence against women is real and college-aged women can be particularly vulnerable to such violence, you need to know what you can do to be safe. With this knowledge, your college life will be full and complete without feeling the added stress of personal safety concerns. The realities of gender inequality create certain challenges for us women, but they need not be insurmountable barriers to all the experiences that we desire for ourselves at college or elsewhere.
Campus resources already exist at most colleges and universities to help you stay safely engaged in a full range of campus activities. Your responsibility is to empower yourself by knowing what health and safety resources exist on your campus and how to use them.
All campuses will have a campus police department. Look up their webpages within your university’s website. You will likely find one or more of the following services available to you. Sign up for these mostly free services and take advantage of them.
- Campus Escort Services: These volunteer-run programs often pair peer to peer escorts to walk any student (male or female) to their destination after dark. Check to see if the escorts in your program are trained and what background checks (if any) they are required to have.
- Campus Shuttle Services: Campuses with large populations of students living off-campus often have regular, free shuttle services available to students at night.
- Email and Text Alerts: Make sure that you are signed up for all safely alert programs that your campus offers so you can get the most accurate information about any safety concerns on campus.
- Self-Defense and other safety training: Free training exists on all campuses to educate students about self-defense and personal safety. Take one!
- Know Your Campus Police Phone Number: Program your campus police phone number into your mobile phone. Make it easy and automatic to contact to the police if you need them fast.
Remember that you are the most aware of your own level of comfort and personal safety needs. Listen to your inner voice and ALWAYS err on the side of caution. When in doubt, call for assistance. After all, that is what a campus resource is for — to be utilized by students!