Staying safe throughout “The Red Zone” and Beyond

The beginning of the fall semester is always the most exciting time of the year on the Georgia Southern campus, especially this year; I mean, we’re a brand new college! We’ve got two new campuses, new bus routes, new students, and even some new student organizations! With all of this newness and excitement, though, comes some scary realities. The first six weeks of the fall semester is known as “The Red Zone”, the time of the year where students are most likely to be sexually assaulted or raped.

One in five women, and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted while in college, according to The National Sexual Violence Resource Center. In light of these statistics, and the fact that we’re still in “The Red Zone”, it’s important that we re-familiarize ourselves with some ways to stay safe on campus.

**All of these tips are from The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network**

1. Stay alert

I know it’s easy to trust the people you go to school with, but it’s not always a good idea to be blindly trusting. You have to know that most people are good, but you also have to understand that some aren’t. When you find yourself alone, whether it’s during the day or at night, it’s imperative that you’re doing your best to stay alert and aware of your surroundings. You don’t need to live your life in fear, but you need to do your best to pay attention to what’s going on around you.

2. Know your resources

If you get into a situation where you need help, it’s important that you know who and where you can go on campus. Georgia Southern has call boxes all across campus where you can call for University Police at any time. If you’re feeling uneasy and want someone to escort you home, they’ll do it. Utilize the resources offered by this university, if and when you think it’s necessary; it’s important to be proactive rather than reactive.

3. Have an emergency plan B

Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but it’s important to have a plan laying out what you’ll do in a sticky situation. If you find yourself stranded with your phone dead, what are you going to do? If you’re locked out of your apartment, who are you going to call? It may seem crazy to think about these things, but as I mentioned before, it’s better to be proactive than reactive.

I know we’re tired of having the “how not to get raped” conversation, but the frightening truth is that we have to know how to protect ourselves until people stop assaulting and there are more severe consequences for rapists.

**If you or someone you know has been assaulted, and needs someone to talk to, The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network provides a 24/7 sexual assault hotline, you can call them at 1-800-656-4673.