How safe is American University? How do you protect yourself at night walking alone? These are common questions asked by collegiettes on campus. It is always important to be safe and to feel safe, but also to be prepared in an emergency situation. AU is relatively a safe campus, scoring a B+ on the College Prowler website rating. The campus itself offers security services with 24/7 vehicle and foot patrols, blue light call for emergency structures, late night escort and transportation services and controlled access to dormitories with an ID or key. But emergencies happen so it is best to be prepared and educated.
Keep in mind that mace is good form of protection to have in your purse or jacket. It can be purchased online or in stores and is perfectly legal to carry around with you. Mace is actually used by military and law enforcement and is very efficient at what it is meant to do: protec yout! They even make small key-chain sizes if you do not feel like carrying in a purse or jacket. Secondly, always walk with a buddy. The more the merrier. At night time it is best to have a friend walk with you to the metro, a restaurant, a dorm or anywhere outside. If you absolutely do not have anyone to walk with and you do not feel safe, call an escort service. AU offers late night transportation and escort services, it usually is even included in your tuition, so use it! Lastly, be aware of your surroundings. It never hurts to be observant, maybe even too observant if you can. Be on the look out for odd behavior, as this is usually most obvious. Always keep your head on a swivel, especially when alone, be aware of what and who is around you. Use these little bits of safety advice to protect you and others on an as-needed basis. Being prepared will benefit you and your friends. Stay safe, collegiettes!
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