Off Campus Safety: Your University Is Here To Help

By Francine Fluetsch on April 9, 2014

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When students move off campus, they are ready to leave the nest of the dorms and start another baby step towards adulthood–well, most of them anyway. Some of them think they are ready, mainly because they want to get away from all the rules implied by the university. While this freedom is important, it calls into question how much responsibility the university should take over off campus students, especially regarding their safety if the school is in a rough area.

Schools want you to live on campus, but many still offer advice for students choosing to make the move off. At UC Santa Cruz, there is a whole section on the housing page that gives tips on how to prepare to live off campus, how renting works, things to look out for and so on. They even give some listings of current housing available off campus that students can look at (which is awesome because finding a place is a lot harder than it seems).

UC Santa Cruz even offers an online renters workshop that will help students get in the know about renting, especially if they have never rented in California before. A lot of other campuses provide pages like this, so if you want details of your specific living situation, go check it out!

Regarding safety, some schools, like the University of Puget Sound, offer escort services for students living both on and off campus. They are usually available 24/7, and the transportation of the escorts will be paid for by the university, meaning no charge will be accumulated towards you. I think this is a great system especially if you have a night class and have to walk home late, alone and in the dark. Make sure to check with your university to see if they offer these services.

Many universities offer advice on safety for living off campus, and since they know the area, it would be smart to talk to a housing staff member or do some research. Talk to some upperclassmen as well before deciding on an area, to make sure that where you are living isn’t the favorite spot of robbers or anything.

Many students will butt heads over this debate because some don’t want any university involvement, while others would feel safer with it. Whether your university offers safety precautions or not, here are a few things to keep in mind so you stay safe while living off campus:

Walking home: If you are walking home you want to make sure you stay on the main road and stay well lit; don’t take any random short cuts. Always know where you are going, and if possible, walk with a friend. Carry as little cash as possible, and if you have a bag, clutch it closely to your side where you can see the zipper. If you are walking with headphones, either only keep one ear bud in or have the music low so you would be able to hear if someone was following you. If it’s really late at night, consider calling a taxi or a friend to drive you home.

Public transport: Be aware of your surroundings at all times and don’t fall asleep. Don’t sit next to someone if they look sketchy (pretty self explanatory). Try to sit near the driver if it is late. If someone gets off at the same stop as you and they are creeping you out, make sure to have your phone ready and stay alert.

Live smart: Do not put a key outside your house/apartment! Give it to a friend that lives close by instead. If you lose your keys, make sure to tell the landlord so they can get the locks changed. Do not post on Facebook or other social media sites when you will be out of town. Make sure that all windows and doors are locked when you aren’t home.

Self-defense: If you are feeling a little scared to be walking to and from campus, you may benefit from taking a self-defense class. There are tons of helpful techniques taught, and you don’t have to be super strong or anything for them to be effective. You may also want to consider buying pepper spray (make sure you don’t spray yourself if you have to use it!)

Keep people informed: I always text my roommate if I’m going to be later than usual and when she should expect me home so at least someone knows my location. It’s a great idea to text somebody (especially someone that lives close by) so that if something were to happen, they would notice rather quickly. It’s also good to get your local police number, because they will be able to respond more directly instead of calling 911 (you can also text the local number if you are in trouble).

Want some more safety tips? This page from MIT may be of service

When considering moving off campus, your university can be a really big resource, so take advantage of it. Keep yourself informed, and make sure to stay safe.

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