Know Your Campus Resources
Campus police number — it's not 911
Your campus has its own police or security department with its own dispatch number. For on-campus incidents, calling campus police directly is often faster than 911 because they're already there. Save the number in your phone — it's in your student handbook or on the campus safety website. Some campuses have safety apps with one-button emergency call.
Safe ride and escort programs
Almost every college campus offers a free late-night safe ride service (shuttle, golf cart, or rideshare voucher) and/or a walking escort program where security personnel walk you across campus. These programs are massively underused. They exist specifically so you don't have to walk alone at night — use them without embarrassment. The number is on your campus safety website.
Blue-light emergency stations
Most campuses have blue-light poles or phones throughout campus that connect directly to campus security when activated. Walk your regular routes (class to dining hall, library to dorm) and note where these are located — especially for paths you take at night. In an emergency where your phone is dead or taken, knowing where the nearest station is matters.
Day-to-Day Habits That Reduce Risk
Dorm security: lock your door even when you're inside
Dorm theft overwhelmingly targets unlocked rooms — students run to the bathroom, shower, or a neighbor's room for 5 minutes and return to a missing laptop or wallet. The habit of locking your door every single time you leave — even for 2 minutes — prevents the vast majority of dorm theft. Also: never prop exterior building doors for convenience. It's not worth it.
Walking at night: headphones, routes, and awareness
Walking with both earbuds in at full volume while looking at your phone eliminates most of your situational awareness. One ear out, or one earbud in — enough to hear your surroundings. Stick to well-lit paths even if they're slightly longer. Tell someone where you're going and when to expect you back. Better: use the safe ride program. It's free.
Protect your laptop — the #1 stolen campus item
Never leave your laptop unattended in the library or common area, even "for a minute." A laptop cable lock ($20) attaches to a desk and prevents grab-and-run theft in study areas. Enable Find My (Mac) or Find My Device (Windows) so you can track or wipe it if stolen. Make sure it's password protected and set to lock on sleep. Back up to cloud — losing the data is often worse than losing the hardware.
Social and Party Safety
Never leave your drink unattended — ever
This applies to any container at any social event: cups, bottles, cans. Once you've walked away or lost sight of your drink, don't drink it — get a new one. It's not paranoia; drug-facilitated assault is real and the target is more often selected than random. If your drink tastes different than it should, stop drinking it immediately and tell a trusted friend. Drink-testing strips are available from campus health on most campuses.
The buddy system is still the best system
Go out with people you trust, check in with each other during the event, and establish ahead of time: we leave together, or we tell each other when we're leaving and with whom. "I'm going with [name], you'll hear from me by [time]" is enough. Most campus incidents occur when people have left their group alone and something went wrong — the pattern is consistent across incident reports.
Trust your gut about people and situations
If something feels wrong at a party — the dynamic, a specific person's behavior, being pressured to drink more than you want — you're allowed to leave. You don't need to explain yourself or stick around out of politeness. "I need to go" is a complete sentence. Have a code word with your friends for "I need an out" — a fake emergency you can text to get them to call you.
Digital Security on Campus
Campus Wi-Fi is shared with thousands
Treat campus Wi-Fi like a coffee shop. Don't access banking or sensitive accounts without a VPN. Use HTTPS sites only. A VPN like NordVPN ($3–5/month) encrypts everything regardless of network.
Use different passwords for different accounts
Campus credential phishing is a major threat — fake login pages that look like your university portal. A password manager means a phished password for one site doesn't compromise all your accounts.
Keep your phone charged and FindMy active
A dead phone is a safety issue. Carry a small power bank. Enable Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) — not just for theft, but because someone who knows you may need to locate you.
Think before you post location
Live-posting your location on social media — especially which bar you're at, which dorm you live in, or that your room is empty for the weekend — is information that's publicly readable by anyone who follows you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safer to live on campus or off campus?
On-campus housing is statistically safer for most students — controlled access, campus security proximity, and community awareness all contribute. Off-campus housing puts you in the surrounding city's crime environment, which varies enormously. If you live off-campus, treat it like any urban residence: understand your neighborhood's crime profile, meet your neighbors, and don't assume the campus safety bubble extends to your apartment.
What should I do if I witness an assault or crime on campus?
Call campus police immediately — don't wait for someone else to call. If it's ongoing, call 911 simultaneously. Don't put yourself in physical danger intervening directly, but your presence, your phone camera, and your voice (calling for help, attracting attention) are all meaningful interventions. Your testimony as a witness matters.
My campus has a reporting system for sexual assault. Should I use it?
Yes. Campus Title IX offices and confidential reporting options exist specifically for this. You can often report confidentially to get resources and support without triggering a full investigation if you're not ready for that. Campus health and counseling centers also provide confidential support. You have more options than you think, and using campus resources doesn't automatically mean a formal report.