As students, we stay out late and study in obscure parts of campus. D.H. Hill library is in the central part of campus, and walking back to any residence halls brings us through dark patches and places where we can’t see around corners. We might be listening to our music through our headphones or talking on the phone, but we also need to be aware of where we are. Captain Jon Barnwell, director of Campus Police, says this is a crucial part of staying safe on campus.

One of the University’s top priorities is keeping students safe. There are many annual programs done and Campus Police is always available to answer any questions about safety. Among some of the programs are walks through campus try to identify dark spots on common student thoroughfares and an escort service for students who need late-night rides back to their homes or residence halls. However, students need to plan ahead when they think they might be alone and in need of this service, because Campus Police receives a lot of escort requests.

Since awareness is the key to safety, students have the option of signing up for Wolf Alerts, which send out e-mails and texts if there is an emergency situation on campus. This helps keep students informed about conditions and has already played a big role at neighboring schools. Campus Police also has the ability to broadcast on televisions across campus, which provides another way to get important safety information out to people on campus in case of an emergency.

There are also policies in place that students need to abide by to ensure their safety. On-campus residents should know that only people who live in their residence halls are allowed in the building, unless they are being escorted by residents. This is to make sure non-residents and people who the University cannot track do not have access to students. It is annoying to some, but critical in maintaining the safety of all residents.

Awareness and following University policy is crucial to making sure all students and faculty are safe. Reporting any suspicious behavior can prevent crime from occurring. But the success of all of our efforts relies on everyone’s cooperation in maintaining safe practices.