1. As much as campus officials try, no environment is completely safe. Know what the risks are and how to minimize them – then do it!

2. Most colleges provide at least basic escort services for students after dark. Know what they are and how to contact them. Better yet, use a buddy system and don’t wander around dark, deserted parts of campus alone or with a relative stranger.

3. Invest in a good basic self defense course, then be sure to practice the skills you’ve learned. 

4. Remember that most women are in more danger from people they know than from strangers – so take the precautions you already know about to avoid date rape and similar kinds of assaults. 

5. If something happens, know how to report it and to whom. Remember that victims are never to blame, and that no matter the outcome, you always did your very best.  Take advantage of all available resources to assist in the recovery process and try to give yourself the gift of patience with the process.

6. Sexual harassment is less of a problem than it once was, but certainly hasn’t been eliminated. The good news is that your college should have published policies on what constitutes sexual harassment and how to deal with it. The bad news is that for a student to confront a faculty member or other campus official can be difficult at best. If you feel you’ve been harassed by anyone on campus, you may want to start by talking it over with a trusted, but “neutral” faculty member or counselor.

7. You’ve heard more than you want to about the problems of binge drinking, drug abuse, and eating disorders. Unfortunately, what you’ve heard is probably true, so try to pay at least a little attention and exercise more caution than you think necessary (it’ll still be less than your parents would like).

8. If you or someone you know is in trouble, get help. Believe it or not, there is a whole community of folks out there who want nothing more than to give it to you. Start with the folks in your Student Services office; they should be able to direct you to the right person in the right place to take care of you.