People in the Davis community were alarmed after receiving crime alerts about some dangerous activity happening both on and off campus. Whether it’s reading about assault victims or random people exposing themselves around town, it is hard to deny that crimes have increased in the city of Davis. That said, it’s important to be careful and prepared when walking around town. If you can avoid walking alone in the middle of the night, you should.
On the chance that you’re out after dark, consider taking some of these steps to be safer:
1. Use the UCD Campus Escort Service
UC Davis provides a free campus escort service for students. It runs in the evenings, seven days per week. This service is perfect for people who don’t feel safe walking or biking after dark. Most of the time, Campus Escort picks students up in a Safe Ride vehicle, bu depending on your location, you can sometimes be escorted to your destination on foot. The hours of operation are 5 PM to 10 PM for travel on campus and 10 PM to 6 AM for travel from campus to anywhere in Davis. You can contact the escort service by phone at (530) 754-2677 or through the TapRide app.
2. Buy Pepper Spray
Carrying a bottle of pepper spray on your key chain is an easy way to have a little extra protection. It’s easy to attach to a key chain or keep in the pocket of your purse. After purchasing it, make sure to learn how to properly use pepper spray. Make sure it does spill where you’ve stored it (some bottles may have a loose latch). You can buy pepper spray at Big 5 Sporting Goods, Target, and even on Amazon.
3. Try Self-Defense Classes
There are several options for learning self-defense on campus. UC Davis hosts several classes. There is a physical education class offered for ½ a unit called, ‘Self Defense for Women,’ where collegiettes can learn basic self-defense techniques. Martial arts classes are offered at the ARC for a fee, and the UC Davis Police Department also hosts free training sessions for self-defense.
You can contact Mary Macias, memacias@ucdavis.edu, for more information regarding these classes through the UCD Police. These classes are important for your safety, and they can be fun to attend with a couple of friends.
Although the author of this ariticle encourages women to take proper safety measures, under no circumstances does she promote victim blaming.