The ultimate responsibility for personal safety and security rests with each individual. Each person should be aware of their surroundings and potential risks to their personal safety. Exercise caution and take reasonable actions in order to protect yourself.

Walk with friends in lighted areas at night.
Keep residence halls secure.
Lock residence hall room doors.
Do not prop open outer doors.
Know building evacuation procedures.
Know how to contact proper authorities.
Drive defensively.
Report suspicious activities to the Campus Safety Department.

Obscene Phone Calls, Harassment, Stalking

Report the incident to Campus Safety.
If they leave an obscene message on your answering machine, save the tape and report it to Campus Safety.
Listen for background noise, and keep a written record of the times and dates you received the calls.
Report all incidents to Campus Safety.

Office, Classroom, or Laboratory Safety

Avoid working or studying alone in a building at night. If you must work late, let somebody you trust know where you are and when you will be done.
Avoid using stairs in remote sections of a building.
Keep your purse in a locked cabinet or drawer. Never leave it in, on top of, or underneath a desk.
While in class, the library, or the lab, keep personal belongings in view.

ATM (Automated Teller Machine)

Try to have someone with you, especially at night.
Be ready - have your card handy but not in plain view.
Stand directly in front of the machine so that no one can see you enter your personal identification number.
Cancel your transaction if anything seems suspicious. You can return later.
Pocket your cash immediately. You can count it later.
If you lose your ATM card, report it to your financial institution.

Bicycle Safety

Ride with the traffic or use bike paths whenever possible.
Use reflectors and reflective tape on your bike or on your clothing.
Lock your bike up (a U-bar lock is recommended ).

Vehicle Safety

Have your keys in hand before you reach your vehicle.
Check the interior of your vehicle before entering it.
When parking your vehicle at night, select a spot that is well lit.
Make a habit of keeping car doors locked.
Avoid leaving property in your vehicle. If you must do so, lock it in the trunk or conceal the items so that they are not visible. Mail or packages with your name on it should be out of sight also.

Outdoor Safety at Night

Learn the locations of all campus emergency phones.
Walk on designated walkways that are well lit and well traveled.
Do not run or jog alone, especially at night.
If you must walk alone, let a friend know where you are going and when you should return.
If you feel you are being followed, head quickly to a group of people or the Campus Safety Office.

Tips for Dealing with Crank Phone Calls

Most of these calls are the ring and hang up variety. A growing number are either obscene or threatening.

1. Hang up. As soon as you hear an obscenity, improper questions or no response to your sleepy "hello?"-Hang Up!!

2. Don't talk to strangers. Be careful when the caller says he/she is taking a survey. If you have any concern about the legitimacy of the survey, ask the person for his/her name, firm name and telephone number. Say that you will call back after you verify the authenticity of the survey.

3. Don't play detective. Don't extend the call trying to figure out who is calling. This or any type of reaction is exactly what the caller wants and needs.

4. Keep cool. Don't let the caller know you are upset or angry.

5. Don't panic when the phone rings. It may just be a wrong number. If it is a crank call, follow these suggestions.

6. Don't try to be clever. A witty response may well be interpreted as a sign of encouragement.

7. Don't try to be a counselor. The annoyance or obscene caller certainly needs professional help, but he/she will only be encouraged by our concern and will continue the late night calls.

8. Don't tell everyone about your calls. Many calls of this type are actually made by friends, family members, even your closest girl friend or boy friend.

9. Place ads with caution. When placing an ad in a newspaper, use a newspaper or post office box number if possible. If you must use your phone number, do not list your address. Crank callers are avid readers of the classified ads.

10. Never volunteer your number to an unknown caller. This is an invitation to call again. If your number is the wrong number, the caller does not need to know your number.

11. Report obscene or annoying calls to the Campus Safety Department or your R.L. Make a record of the call. By reporting the call to the above authorities, you have begun the process to stop these 3 a.m. calls.