Prevention of Sexual Assault on Campus

By Jane Hurst

Unfortunately, sexual assaults on college campuses are at an all-time high, and this doesn’t seem to be coming to an end any time soon. So, with this in mind, it is important that all college students, both female and male, know what to do in order to protect themselves from ending up in a sexual assault situation. Here are some things that you, as a student, need to keep in mind in order to stay safe, get a great education, and enjoy your college years.

• Resources – When you first arrive at college, learn about all of the resources available, including the campus health center, the campus police station, and others. Find out if there is a sexual assault counsellor, where the emergency telephones are located, and make sure that the campus security number is programmed into your mobile phone.
• Be Alert – Attacks happen when one isn’t alert to their surroundings. No matter where you are, be it on campus or at the mall, know your surroundings. Bring a friend along with you when walking at night, or ask someone from campus security to escort you home or to your vehicle. Don’t wear headphones in both ears so you can hear everything that is going on around you.
• Don’t Post Your Location – Social media is a great thing, but it can also be dangerous. Be careful about what you are posting. Don’t post where you are going to be, and turn off any geolocation functions on your devices.
• Mind Your Own Actions – Sadly, sometimes the most innocent of actions can be taken as much more serious, and you could find yourself being charged with sexual assault. If this happens, be sure to hire Greater Houston Defense attorneys.
• Be Careful with Alcohol – It is very important to know your limits when it comes to alcohol. Sadly, many sexual assaults happen because the victim is too out of it to be able to say “no”, or know what is going on.
• Keep an Eye on Your Drinks – Even if you only plan on having a drink or two, you could end up in a dangerous situation if you don’t watch your drinks every second. If you turn your back on your drink, even for a couple of seconds, someone can slip in a date rape drug. If you have to walk away from your drink, have a trusted friend watch it for you. Avoid drinking anything from a punch bowl because you have no idea what is really in it.
• Trust Your Own Intuition – We all get that feeling that we are in a bad situation or place at times. Listen to your intuition, because it is probably right. If something doesn’t feel right, there is usually a reason for it. If you feel like something is off, or like you are being followed, pretend to talk loudly on your phone, so the person who is following will think that there is someone who can call the police for you.
• Take Self-Defense Classes – It never hurts to know how to defend yourself in any situation, and most college campuses offer self-defense classes for women and men. You will find that after taking these classes that you are much more confident in yourself, and you will know that you can protect yourself if you are attacked.
• Stick with Your Friends – When you are with a group of friends, it is much less likely that you are going to be attacked. Attackers tend to look for people who are alone and vulnerable. Whenever you go anywhere, try to be with at least one or two friends. You will all be much safer that way.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter!