Campus Alert: Protect Yourself

You crawl out of bed for that 8:00 am class and scurry to the elevator. While waiting for the dreadfully slow machine to creak its way up to your floor, you scan the dorm bulletin board and its plethora of reading material. One post in particular catches your attention.
Unfortunately, it’s titled “Campus Alert”. 
 

It seems that every week a new email is sent out, along with flyers posted around the campus & dorms about crime on campus. While some of these crimes are fairly harmless, such as car part theft and drunken flashing, others are life threatening. These potentially fatal crimes include sexual assault, armed robbery, and malicious attacks against students. You may think that these crimes only happen to people who are naïve about their safety, but the reality is, anyone can be a victim.
 
There are many away to reduce your chances of being the subject of another crime alert flyer. The most basic of these precautions, which you certainly learned as a child, include not walking alone at night, being constantly aware of your surroundings, and not accepting rides from strangers. While these techniques help minimize your chances of being attacked, they are not guaranteed to keep you safe.
 
To ensure you are aware of your surroundings, avoiding talking on the phone while walking alone. It may seem like a good idea to be in communication with someone in case of an attack, but in reality it is a distraction leaving you more susceptible to assailants. Also, use well lighted walkways even if it is a more roundabout way to your destination and not as convenient.  While it may be bothersome, avoiding walking in the dark is much more beneficial than taking the most direct or easiest route, as criminals are less likely to attack in the light. 
 
The campus escort system is a great way to get around campus when you are alone or traveling at night. Simply call (619) 594-1991 and a police officer will either walk you to your destination or give you a ride in a police car (might even be fun!).
 
If you are in a situation where using the escort system isn’t possible, such as when you’re off campus, carrying a self-defense weapon will give you a greater chance of getting away from your assailant should you be attacked. Many women carry knives or small caliber handguns in their purses, however, you run the risk of having it used against you, possibly causing fatal injuries.
 
Pepper spray is always an option, but if you are assaulted from behind it is nearly impossible to spray your attacker in the eyes, allowing you to escape. If you feel it is necessary to carry a spray, wasp spray is stronger and more effective than pepper spray, but if you choose to use wasp spray, be exceedingly careful. While it is extremely effective at warding off an attacker, it can be permanently blinding to either you or an attacker. 
 
A Taser is possibly the best choice of self-defense weapons. Tasers are useful in any attack situation because you don’t have to aim for a specific body part and it will render your assailant incapable of attack. Also, if a Taser is wrestled away and used against you, it will not cause any permanent damage unlike a knife or gun. A Taser, such as the Volt Stun Gun by CANN*KS ,which happens to come in an adorable baby pink, sends electrical pluses through the body causing immobility, thus allowing for your escape. 
 

In combination with defense weapons, if you are being attacked, making loud and attracting noise is key. As you’ve probably heard that yelling “fire” is more effective than “help”, but using a rape whistle is also instrumental in attracting attention and deafening you’re assailant.
 
Crime is inescapable. There will always be terrible people doing terrible things, but if you take the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your chances of being a victim. Carrying a Taser, being aware of your surroundings and making noise will deter assailants from making you their next victim. When it comes to self-defense, in the words of Ms. Congeniality, never forget to S.I.N.G.- Solar Plexus. Instep. Nose. Groin.