When you travel to the United States, you will find that most Americans are very conscious of their personal safety. On college campuses students tend to walk in groups at night, rather than alone, and they stay in well-lit areas. Students will call the campus security office when they notice someone acting suspiciously on campus, and they take care to keep their personal possessions safe, which includes keeping cars and dorm rooms locked.
While it is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times and to take safety precautions, rest assured that most campuses (and cities) are safe places to study and live. If you watch television news programs from large cities, you will see many reports of crimes each day, but this does not mean these cities are totally unsafe. Members of the television media report stories of crime more than anything else because they feel it will get the most people to watch their shows, and this can lead to a distorted image of the city's safety.
Crime Statistics
The nonprofit organization Security on Campus seeks to educate students and parents about the prevalence of crime on college campuses and to assist victims of crime. Through the Security on Campus Web site, you can search for crime statistics by school in the Office of Postsecondary Education's databases. Colleges are required by law to report all crimes on campus and those affecting students off campus, so this database will give you an accurate picture of safety at your chosen school.
911
In most areas of the United States, you can reach police and other emergency personnel, such as the local fire department, by dialing 911 from your telephone. If you encounter a true emergency, such as a fire or vehicle accident, or if you feel you are in immediate danger, call 911. Your call will be answered by an operator who can determine your location, assess the situation, and send the appropriate assistance.
College Programs
Security personnel employed by your school will patrol the campus to make sure students are safe. Some specific programs offered at U.S. colleges and universities include:
- The College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, maintains a network of emergency phones across its campus. Students can use these phones to contact the Department of Security staff for many reasons: to request an escort so they don't have to walk alone at night, to request assistance with their vehicle, to report a crime, or to ask a question.
- Students at The University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, are protected by Police Services officers. This unit of the Department of Public Safety distributes information to students on safety precautions that can keep them from becoming a victim of crime. Officers also keep a daily incident log on the school's Web site; students can check this log to see if there have been any crimes committed recently on campus.
- The Department of Public Safety at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, issues photo identification cards to all students. Students must have their I.D. cards to enter residence halls, eat at dining halls, and borrow books from the library. The department also requires parking permits for all vehicles on campus.
- Avila
University in St. Louis, Missouri, contracts with a licensed private
security business to provide security officers on campus. The school
also maintains a safety and security bulletin board and conducts
regular crime prevention programs for students and faculty.
Personal Responsibility
While many programs and technologies exist to help keep students safe, the most important thing to remember is that you are responsible for your personal safety. Make safety practices—such as locking your dorm room—a regular habit, and take advantage of any safety training your university may offer.
