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College is a great place to meet new people and try new things. However, this can also make college very dangerous, especially at night. Here are a few tips and tools you can utilize to protect yourself on campus.
1. Try not to walk alone at night
This first tip can be difficult to follow, especially since you and your friends more than likely don’t have the same daily schedules. However, if you plan on going to study at the library (or another activity somewhere) during a later time, take a buddy with you! The parking deck or the long walk to the lot across can be sketchy, so it’s best to have a friend with you. If you don’t have someone to walk with you, you can ask the security guard! If they are unavailable, there is a really cool gadget called Personal Alarm by Sabre. This device can hook to your backpack or your pants and it flashes a light and sounds an alarm if you push the button (which is perfect for walking alone at night). The alarm is super loud and can either scare someone off if they are trying to approach you or alert someone who is nearby.
2. Invest in pepper spray
Pepper spray was one of the first things my parents gave me before I left for college. I haven’t had to use it yet, but it is still great to have on hand. Sabre makes a great one that is cute (because it’s pink lol) and attaches to your keys. Investing in this is great because it’s better to have it and not need it than to need and not have it!
3. Watch your drink!
I’m sure you’ve heard this tip many times before, but it is extremely important! People do drug girls, and it never ends well. So, in order to keep yourself safe, if you put your drink down, LEAVE IT! Don’t accept a drink that you didn’t watch being made. There are other situations too that can at times be unavoidable. I’ve seen videos of people putting drugs in girls drinks while they were holding them or asking girls to “taste” their drink. If this is the case (or you feel like someone messed with your drink) try out Sabre’s Drink Test Kit. It is the perfect thing to keep in your purse and it will allow you to determine if your drink has been tampered with.
4. Always have someone know your location
Make sure at least one person knows where you are if you go somewhere. This doesn’t necessarily have to be your parents, but alerting them can be good too. I share my location on my iPhone with my closest friends so if they are unable to get in touch with me, they can see where I am. If you don’t have an iPhone, there are different apps available that allow you to share your location with a friend or parent.
5. Utilize AU Alert
This tip is simple. Make sure you are getting alerts from Auburn Campus Safety (or if you’re reading from a different college, whichever alert system your college uses). This is the best way to stay up to date with what is happening on campus and what areas to steer clear of. I get emails and notifications on my phone!