With the fall semester in full swing, it’s important to protect yourself when you go out into the city, go partying, or simply feel unsafe. This past week, Temple raised awareness for on-campus sexual violence with the implementation of Sexual Assault Prevention Week. There are multiple services here on campus that work to improve student safety, and college students can take individual measures to protect themselves as well.
Using these six tips can help you feel more safe and confident on or off campus.
1. Walk in groups
It’s important to walk in groups with your friends to decrease your chances of getting attacked. If an attacker sees multiple threats and witnesses, they are less likely to target an individual than if that one person is isolated from everyone else.
2. Try Temple’s Walking Escort Program
If your friends are not available to walk you home, that doesn’t mean you should walk alone! Temple gives students the option to request a security bike officer to walk them home, or to wherever they are going. The escort service is available daily from 4:00 p.m. 6:00 a.m. — and it’s free! To learn more, check out their page here.
3. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings
I’ll admit, I’m definitely guilty of looking at my phone screen while walking around campus. Still, the more alert you are of your surroundings, the more likely you’ll be able to avoid a dangerous situation before it happens. Try to look behind you frequently and always have one earbud out so that you can hear surrounding noises.
4. Hide expensive items
Wearing flashy jewelry or holding your Coach clutch in your hand when you go out at night can boost your style points, but it can also show an attacker that you have valuable belongings for them to steal. I recommend keeping jewelry to a minimum and always placing your wallet or phone out of sight (such as in a purse or pocket). Also, consider using a purse with a zipper rather than an open purse. This will make it harder for your valuables to fall out or be snatched.
5. Keep something on you that you can defend yourself with
If you want to increase your safety further, consider purchasing a self-defense item. Some popular and useful items include pepper spray, self-defense claws, a high pitch personal alarm, a loud whistle, or other gadgets that you can find online.
6. Take a self-defense class
Temple’s College of Public Health offers an entire semester long class called Personal Defense-Women, which can be taken by female students for credit hours. You can also request to have and introductory self-defense workshop with a Certified Rape Aggression Defense instructor by contacting Temple’s Risk Reduction and Advocacy Services. For more information, check out their page here.
Prioritizing your safety is key to living a happy, healthy life. With these tips, you should be able to have a fun semester while still protecting yourself at all times!
*If at any moment you feel like your safety is being compromised, immediately call (215) 204-1234 for emergencies on campus or 911 for all other emergencies.*