Advice to incoming freshmen on campus safety...

[PhrozenGod01]

And remember this saying: "Beer before liquor, never been sicker; Liquor before beer, you're in the clear." Realistically, you will probably drink if you're underage (probably more often than when you actually turn 21) so just try to think ahead. Hangovers are terrible and tomorrow is another day.

[Still BLUTANG]

watch your cup! if you're drinking (anything) and have to put your cup down to dance / go to the restroom or whatever, count it as a loss.

when you plan to be gone for a while, let someone know where you're going. Leave a note for your roomie on your dry-erase board, or something so people know (1) where you are and (2) who you're with.

trust your instincts. if someone is creeping you out, LEAVE.

Have fun but be aware of your surroundings! good luck to all the incoming freshman.

[gphiangel624]

If your campus has a campus safety escort service, USE IT. Better yet, volunteer for it and talk some of your friends into volunteering as well. Some campuses have begun to do semesterly or quarterly "safety walks" in which various office staff, students, RAs, campus police/security walk the campus and identify both safe routes and areas that need more security/lighting/etc. Go, and bring along your friends, hallmates, co-workers, sorority/fraternity sisters/brothers, etc. It's worth it.

It sucks to play into the rumors sometimes, but if there are places on campus that are rumored to be dangerous, especially at night, try to avoid them anyway. Better safe than sorry.

To add on to the "keep your keys out on the way to your car" comment- if you have classes that end after dark, make a friend in the class and make an agreement to leave together and stay together until you're safe in a car/dorm room/apartment, etc. Whether this means carpooling, walking to one person's car then driving the other to theirs, or whatever, you're better off spending a little extra time or gas money than worrying about safety.

If you commute and your campus doesn't allow you to park in "preffered" lots after hours (i.e. 4 or 5pm), petition to get that changed! My campus is notorious for being badly-lit and a haven for after-dark dangerous behavior (thus the reason for all the tips!), but something that helps is that students who have general parking (way out in the boonies mostly) can park in stff/faculty lots closer to buildings after 4pm. It helps a lot, especially for when upperclassmen have night courses.