Preventing Sexual Assault Crimes on College Campuses
For many students, living on a college campus is the first time they’ve lived outside their homes for an extended period of time. This is the first chance you get to truly feel independent. It also means taking on added responsibilities to protect yourself.
According to information collected by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 15 men are sexually assaulted while attending college. In some of those instances, the college itself could be partially responsible if it failed to provide adequate security.
That’s an issue to discuss with an experienced Charleston sexual abuse lawyer.
It is also beneficial for all students to remain diligent and proactive when it comes to preventing sexual assault crimes on college campuses. The following are some helpful tips that every college student should be aware of:
Stay Alert Always
As you navigate the campus and its surrounding neighborhood, it’s essential to remain vigilant about your surroundings. It helps to walk with a friend off campus. If you’re out for a run for exercise, just use your headphones in one ear to help you be aware of what’s going on around you.
Be Careful About Posting Your Location
As you know, most social media sites, including Facebook and X, utilize geolocation technology that shares your location when you post. You should consider turning off the location functionality when posting.
Trust but Verify
Between your classes and campus life, you’re going to meet a lot of new people. Many of these fellow students can become meaningful friends. However, you don’t have to make fast friends with everyone. It’s okay to take a beat and do a little investigation before sharing personal information.
Have a Back-Up Plan
You need to consider the “worst-case scenario” when living on campus. For instance, if your cell phone dies, do you have important numbers memorized? Do you have a stash of emergency cash in case your credit cards or debit cards aren’t working or are lost? If you drive, do you have a spare set of car keys?
Stay Secure in Your Room
A college dorm has a lot of “foot traffic.” You want to ensure that you keep your door and windows locked when you’re sleeping or when you leave the room, even if you’re just going down to the common room. Also, be on the lookout for the front door to the dorm being constantly propped open.
That should be reported to campus security.
How to Stay Safe at Parties
Parties are part of college life. There is nothing wrong with going to parties to meet up with your new friends and enjoy your time at college. If you do attend a party, it’s essential to have a plan. You should always go with people you trust and agree to watch out for each other. That means leaving together.
If those plans change, it’s essential to inform everyone in your team.
It’s also important to protect your drink. Never leave it unattended or accept a drink from someone you don’t know, regardless of how friendly they might seem. You don’t want to think the worst of your fellow students, but with a drug-facilitated sexual assault, an assailant could slip a substance into your drink that has no color, taste, or odor.
When you do go with a friend, it is important that you watch out for each other. If it ever reaches the point where something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right, and you should try to remove yourself from the environment.
Do You Know Your Campus Resources?
As you settle into your campus life, it is essential to be aware of all the available resources. Do you know who to contact if you or a friend needs help? Does your campus have a sexual assault service provider?
The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (FRIS) is an organization dedicated to providing information and resources to victims of sexual assault. They also developed a program, It’s On Us WV, which promotes safety and prevention.
Each major college campus also has resources and websites dedicated to preventing sexual assault and providing support. You should familiarize yourself with those resources.
Additionally, if there is an assault, you can consult with an attorney from Hendrickson & Long, PLLC, to discuss the next steps. If you’re dealing with the authorities, you still need an advocate who will support your option to find a remedy and compensation for any assault that happened on campus property.
You can call to schedule a free and confidential consultation today.
Let us provide you with the information and guidance you need to work through what happened.
