Advice to incoming freshmen on campus safety...

[PhrozenGod01]

Self Awareness is key. Know about any medical or health conditions you have and always have the necessary medication available with you at all times. Eat properly and understand where you can visit your campus clinic/health center. You can run from a creepy criminal type person but an untreated serious illness is hard to avoid and can significantly hinder your growth as a healthy individual and student.

[SydneyK]

Take a self-defense class. You'll hopefully never need to know what you learn in there, but if it could save your life, it'd certainly be worth it. Besides, it can be a fun way to release some tension and stress.

[adpiucf]

Don't leave a friend at a party. Do not leave a party with someone you just met.

And if you come to college never having been on a date, don't kiss and then sleep with the first person who shows you any attention. Remember what Grandma said, "Petting doesn't make you popular!" Have some self-respect and put the brakes on.

Putting the brakes on also applies to driving. The campus police are out to get you. Don't drink and drive and don't go speeding around campus. Be very aware of the slower MPH signs.

Drink in moderation. The senior next to you or your lush for a roommate may be able to chug back 6 beers as his pre-drink, but know that if you take shots or have a drink, it takes a little while to "kick in." Do not slam back more shots or beers thinking you need more to drink to look cool or get buzzed. And if you're underage, you should not be drinking.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

know that if you take shots or have a drink, it takes a little while to "kick in."

This applies DOUBLE to Jello shots!! One night when I was manning the make-shift bar I told this girl that after 4 jello shots she needs to take it easy for awhile because they're all going to hit her at the same time in a half-hour or so. I found her later that night laying on the floor because she didn't listen.

[Kansas City]

This is a great thread with lots of helpful information. If you are new to any campus, not just a freshman, be sure to take detailed notes. Actually, it wouldn't be such a bad idea for everyone to pay attention. Now on a lighter, yet still serious note ...

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

This applies DOUBLE to Jello shots!! One night when I was manning the make-shift bar I told this girl that after 4 jello shots she needs to take it easy for awhile because they're all going to hit her at the same time in a half-hour or so. I found her later that night laying on the floor because she didn't listen.

... I would also recommend steering clear of the fruit that may be floating in homemade punch. The absorption rate will tend to sneak-up on you! We use to always have a Halloween mixer followed by a party with one certain fraternity. It always ended in a large mess for the fraternity to clean up the next morning.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

I would also recommend steering clear of the fruit that may be floating in homemade punch. The absorption rate will tend to sneak-up on you!

pssst, that's the point.

[Kansas City]

Originally Posted by 33girl

pssst, that's the point.

Oh, yeah! I guess you're right on that one but I still felt sorry for the guys that had housekeeping duty the next morning ... I guess that was the price they had to pay for an entertaining social the night before.

[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.

[Drolefille]

Freshmen women beware of the senior men. They are not interested in you for your mind

PAY ATTENTION when you're walking. If you feel uncomfortable go into a building. Don't worry about feeling stupid.

Don't get so absorbed in a phone call or reading notes or your plastic beer cup that you wouldn't know if someone was walking behind you.

Cell phones make you feel safer but chances are that a) the person you're talking to isn't close enough to help you if something happens and b)it'll be the first thing taken away from you by an attacker.

Use shuttles if they're available. They're warm in the winter.

If you're out drinking, go with someone you trust not to leave you. And be careful. You don't want to be passed out unconcious in a strangers room. At least not during your first week at school, ok? If you don't know your limits.. take it SLOW.

[Michael Betay]

thank.s to sharing nice stuff

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Don't leave a friend at a party. Do not leave a party with someone you just met.

I needed to highlight this one. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM. Go with a group of friends, and agree, while you're all still sober, that you're not going to leave without everyone in the group. Particularly if you have been drinking, DO NOT ever leave with anyone of the opposite sex, even if you know them.

Women, to be safe--one drink an hour only. And that doesn't mean if you're going to be out for 5 hours you should drink 5 drinks in the first hour. You are responsible for protecting yourself, and you can't do that if you're drunk.

And women--get a HPV vaccination.

[KyleMcGuire1983]

can you even GET an HPV vaccination? I've heard all kinds of crazy stats like 75% of humans have or will get HPV in their lifetime.

FRESHMEN GIRLS- Do NOT put out too much. I can't tell you how many freshmen girls wind up going on serial sex sprees until they get a reputation for being a slut and stop. By then it's too late.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

can you even GET an HPV vaccination? I've heard all kinds of crazy stats like 75% of humans have or will get HPV in their lifetime.

Yes--Merch launched the vaccine for women, I believe at the end of 2005, and they are now trying to pread the word of its availability.