I’m here to talk to you about a big thing that’s super popular now: CAMPUS SAFETY. Coming into college, I didn’t really have a sense of what my experience was going to be like and I had no real regard for my own safety, despite the school requiring me to finish a drug and alcohol survey online (because that’s a great preventative measure, right?). At the beginning of freshman year, students are required to see a lecture about sex and safety precautions. It’s a lot of fun, but I’m a junior and I remember nothing from that talk. The school also requires students to take a Fitness and Wellness class for a semester, which despite its best intentions doesn’t promote much awareness.
This is where I come in! Campus safety is a huge issue across the country. Problems ranging from sexual assault to drug abuse are rampant on college campuses, and it’s my belief that this is due to lack of appropriate education surrounding these issues. Here’s a list of a few campus safety matters that occur on campus and what you can do to avoid them. Please note that despite these issues being unpleasant, they are realistic.
1. Alcohol Poisoning
So it’s your first weekend of college. Everyone around you is getting drunk. You should join in, right? Wrong. Never feel pressured to drink just because your friends are. This is not your typical “don’t succumb to peer pressure” rant. Alcohol is fun, as long as you know your limits. It’s okay to drink with friends you trust to see what you like and what you can handle. It’s also important to have at least one sober friend around just in case. Despite what some women might think, getting drunk and making a fool of yourself will not make you seem like hot shit, it will make you look like a very not hot mess.
What you can do to avoid getting too drunk:
- Water! I cannot stress this enough. Alcohol, despite it being a liquid, is very dehydrating. If you drink water, it’s less likely that you will end up sick and it fills your stomach so that you don’t feel like you need to drink more. In addition, if you do drink a little over your limit, drinking water can help prevent a hangover in the morning
- Do not drink alcohol mixed with sugary drinks. One or two drinks are fine, but when you combine alcohol with soda or juice, it takes away the taste of alcohol and you end up drinking a lot more than you intended. Drinking jungle juice in a strange place with strange people is a recipe for disaster.
- A reason not to drink (or drink too much) is because your ability to make sensible decisions goes way down. Unfortunately, some people might attempt to take advantage of you if they see you in this state.
2. Sexual Harassment
Unfortunately, sexual assault is very prevalent on college campuses. Statistics show that 1 in 5 women on a college campus will experience a form of sexual assault. My belief is that better education reduces the possibility of these incidences. If your attacker doesn’t know the difference, you can, by making sure you are aware of what I call red tape situations. We all know what yellow tape is, right? Policemen often use it to “warn” us. In my mind, yellow means slow. Red tape situations are those that make you stop in your tracks. Here are some examples of red tape situations and what you can do to avoid them.
- You have a male friend who you trust. You’ve both been drinking, him more than you, but you’re used to that. You guys hang out, have fun; it’s a good night so far. Then all of a sudden, he starts touching you and it’s making you feel uncomfortable. You tell him to stop and he says no. He says he knows you’ve wanted this for a long time; that you don’t have to hide your feelings. Red tape.
Here’s some things you can do: find someone else to help you and get your friend under control. Alcohol is called liquid courage for a reason. People will say and do things that they normally wouldn’t do if they were sober (hopefully). If there is no one else around, you can try to reason with him. If he starts getting aggressive, no matter what, you fight. Know that this isn’t your fault, but someone else’s.
- You just bought a super cute skirt. You’re looking forward to wearing it on Monday as your #ootd. It’s definitely going to get compliments. Day of, you’re wearing it and you are feeling fierce. All of sudden, you see a group of guys walking towards you and they start cat calling, saying they can show you a good time. One of them has the courage to walk up to you and put their arm around you. Red tape.
No matter what you wear, there is no way that you can suggest anything or send any kind of message at all. Your clothing is yours; it’s how you express yourself. If someone manipulates it, that’s not your fault. Take this problem to someone who can do something about it. If there is someone else around you while this is happening, get him or her involved. You need the support. In any type of sexual assault situation, it’s always important for your needs to come first. Never feel afraid to say something. You are not to blame.
List of what counts as sexual assault:
- Unwanted Touching
- Domestic Violence (relationship violence)
- Unwanted sexual advances verbally or physically
- Rape
- Sexual harassment
- Emotional abuse
Please do whatever you can to educate yourself on the dangers of sexual assault. No one ever thinks it can happen to him or her, and thus they aren’t prepared. I hate to be the one to say this so publicly, but we are not invincible. If someone sees an opportunity to hurt you, they make take advantage of it.
3. Prevention.
As I said earlier, being educated about the problems that arise on college campuses is extremely important. Lack of knowledge in this area leads to huge numbers of incoming students that have no idea about what they are getting themselves into. College is supposed to be a time for exploration and enjoying yourself as you discover who you are, what you are good at, and what you are interested in. It’s not the time to be abused, scared, or sick. Below I am providing some ways to educate your self about college campus problems in general and some ways to get to know how Muhlenberg College is attempting to protect its students.
Information about Muhlenberg College:
Safety Services: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/campus-safety/safetyservices/
Campus Safety: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/campus-safety/
Information Regarding Sexual Assault: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/campus-safety/sexualassault/
Information Regarding Drugs and Alcohol: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/campus-safety/drugsandalcohol/
Campus Safety Annual Report (details drug, alcohol and sexual assault incidences at the institution):
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/media/contentassets/pdf/about/campus-safety/annual_report2014-2015.pdf
In Case of Emergency: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/health/clinicalservices/emergencynumbers/
Articles Regarding Campus Safety:
What Officers are facing on College Campuses:
http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/85537-major-issues-campus-security-officers-will-face-today
Important Questions for both Parents and Students:
Be aware:
Despite what I’ve written here, there are still other dangers out there for college students. Take the time to make sure you know what they are and what you can do. It’s your life; it’s your college experience. Don’t let anyone else take advantage of it. I hope that this helps anyone who needs it and educates those that don’t have knowledge about these situations.
Emergency Numbers
Counseling Services
484.664.3178
Counseling Services (Emergency after hours)
484.664.3110
Health Center
484.664.3199
Health Center (emergency after hours)
484.664.3110
Campus Safety
484.664.3110