Just about every other girl I see on campus has a canister of pink pepper spray hanging from their vera bradley keychain. My roommate has an extreme rape whistle dangling right next to her dorm access card. I keep my pocket knife handy walking from my car to my apartment after 10. As much as I love my campus and despite how well lit and quiet it is at night, the ‘GVSUAlert! Safety Notice’ emails will make anyone walk a little faster. After four reported sexual assaults just barely off campus a town hall discussion was held on the topic and both campus police and county police have been making an extra lap. On top of that, GVSU administration members and the police force met with property managers of multiple apartment complexes to decide what the next step was for safety whether it be adding a new streetlamp here and a camera there or making sure an officer just happens to be around the area on a Friday night.
We just finished our first month of school and already four people have had to suffer an assault. Their only worry that night should have been remembering if they finished their homework, not how they’re going to deal with that kind of trauma. This is clearly a problem and not only on my campus. The cops can do their best to help, but once you get past that well lit street, once you’re away from the safety of a lamp post light, you’re immediately more vulnerable. At this point I don’t even know where to start when talking about it. There are so many questions to be answered. Were either of them under the influence, did they understand what was happening, where were they headed, why were they alone, did nobody hear them? But the question that sticks with me is just, why? I won’t understand why it happens, and I’ll always wish I could do something about it but I wasn’t at that party, I wasn’t on my way to the same parking lot, I wasn’t there to do anything.
You can’t be helpless or unaware when walking around campus after dark because there won’t always be someone there walking to the parking lot and you won’t always leave the party with someone. That is, unless you make that conscious effort for safety. There are some simple actions and precautions you can take that will decrease your chances of becoming a victim. Of course the best way to decrease sexual assault cases would be for the assailant to well, not do it. But I can’t anything about them right now, I can just do my best to inform people on how to help themselves.
Learn how to fight back
A report by the National Institute of Justice shows that self-protection forms such as fighting back, running, hiding, yelling for help, or struggling decrease the risk of rape completion by up to 80%. Many campuses will offer self defense classes and if they don’t, local YMCA’s usually have a basic class for a small fee. Even if you opt out of a class you can use the method my mom taught me at the mall when I was little just in case; scream, kick and run.
Know your limits and have a plan just in case
Many cases of assault happen under some kind of influence. While intoxicated someone is much more vulnerable, judgment is impaired as well as ability to fight back. So if you know you’ll be at a party watch how much you drink, if you know you might be a little too lax on that, make sure you have someone to stay with or to walk you back to your place safely. On top of that, keep an eye on your drink and know what is in your cup. If someone you don’t trust hands you a glass from the punchbowl, be wary. If you leave your drink unattended, don’t go back to it just to be safe.
Trust your gut and stick with friends
If you’re wandering around, walking back to your place, or hopping to the next party, don’t do it alone. If something feels off, you feel as if you’re being followed or if someone you’re sharing the sidewalk with makes you uncomfortable, it’s okay to move away, grip your purse a little closer or have your rape whistle in hand. I know it sounds like common sense but sometimes it doesn’t cross your mind, you just want to have fun and become less aware of your surroundings.
Four reported assaults in around a month. Three simple tips to decrease the risk. Why would you not follow just three simple rules, prevent a fifth assault. Of course it would be better for everyone if an assailant just understood that no means no or didn’t make unwanted advancements but it’s not a perfect world. I can’t control them, I can only inform you. GVSU is a well lit, well protected campus. But the second you step off campus and you walk into the dangers that await past a lamp post, you can’t afford to let your guard down. Just please, be safe, and watch out for your friends, from one student to another.
