Between dorm life, parties, academics and all the other elements of college, the importance of safety probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet the safety component that a college offers is something to be educated about. For college women in particular, there is a need to be safe and aware on campus. One of the most common concerns at UA is walking alone at night. “I don’t like walking in the dark to parking garages,” said Haley Caldwell, journalism junior. “It isn’t the students I am afraid of, it’s the surrounding people.” Large universities, like UA, offer amenities not only to students from all over but to the local community as well, which makes the school a general resource open to the public. For this reason, it is important to follow gut instinct for those people or activity that seem shady.
Did you know? During a 12 month period an estimated 3.4 million persons age 18 or older were victims of stalking. Females experienced 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 or older, while the rate of stalking victimizations for males was approximately 7 per 1,000 males age 18 or older, according to the SVS: Stalking Victimization in the United States Report, put out by the U.S. Department of Justice. Stalking contains various definitions but the most common is the act of following or laying in wait for the victim at places such as home, school, work, or recreation place. A college campus is not an exemption to this or other possible crimes so be alert. If you are getting out of class late, ask a classmate to drive you to your car or utilize safe ride, a free car service to students around the area of campus.
If you do encounter something out of the ordinary, do not be afraid to report what you see. Suspicious activity is deemed suspicious for a reason! It is important to keep in mind no matter how many emergency poles or UAPD officers surveying the area, the unpredictability factor is always there. No matter the preventative measures, the human factor is volatile. “I avoid campus, even the library at night,” said Piper Stoeckel, a junior Dance and Journalism major. If the idea of walking campus at night raises concerns for you, regress back to the old buddy system! Find comfort in your UA campus and the resources available.