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Staying safe on campus takes on a new dimension during summer. While most students have returned home or otherwise left campus, some remain for summer programs or internships.

Spring Semester has ended for many Colleges and Universities. For many, it’s a time to relax and unwind. That’s fine, but don’t let your guard down.

The campus can feel like a ghost town, especially compared to having thousands walking around when school’s in session.

Just recently I read about an attempted assault. The woman was walking alone, in the dark, when a man started following her. When he attacked, she screamed and, luckily, he ran away.

I say ‘luckily’ because it doesn’t always work out that way. Staying safe is more than a catch-phrase, it implies action.

Remain Vigilant

In the Marines, I was taught to remain vigilant. We would be on multi-day patrols, in the woods or desert, just four of us, and our survival depended on it. Being vigilant meant we kept our eyes focused on anything out of the ordinary. We listened for any sound that didn’t seem to fit in. With a little practice, it’s not too difficult to distinguish human-made sounds from natural sounds. We’d also trust our ‘feelings’ and if something ‘sensed’ out of the ordinary, we’d honor that too.

But, what does that mean and does it apply to men and women not in the military?

To be vigilant means to to keep careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. To me, it really means to be fully present and aware. On campus, off campus, at the mall, in your neighborhood or your apartment complex, dangers can arise. It doesn’t mean walking around paranoid that someone is going to jump out at you. But, it does mean being aware of high risk people, places and situations.

For example, when I walk around a corner, I usually swing out wide so I am less susceptible to someone jumping out at me. I have the added benefit of not bumping into people either. When I’m approaching my car, I glance under and around it from afar. This prevents me from being surprised or from running over any obstacles like broken glass.

Vigilance does not have to be associated with violence, it can just be about awareness.

Trust Your Senses

I mentioned previously that while on patrol, we stayed very in-tune with our senses. We trusted our ‘gut’ feelings or other senses that told us something wasn’t right. I remember one late night, while on watch with my other 3 team members asleep, hearing a sound that caused the hair on the back of my neck to go up. I quietly woke my team and we were able to avoid detection.

You experience it too. Sometimes you get the ‘creeps’ from a guy. Trust that feeling.

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

It’s a cliche, I know, but when it comes to your safety, it truly is better to wonder if your paranoia or actions were justified, rather than suffer the consequences of an attack.

Sometimes upsetting a stranger, or friend, is a consequence of your safety, but what would you prefer?

Would you prefer to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, and increasing your risk of assault. Or, would you rather be safe and apologize for possibly upsetting someone?

No Regrets

Whatever you do regarding your safety on-campus, you want to do it decisively. Don’t worry about it being perfect and all thought out. If your senses tell you something’s not right, act. Walk faster, run, scream, find other people. Do something.

What you don’t want to do is regret ‘not taking action.’ Look, there are some scary scenarios that can happen. Especially if you’re alone or give up control to someone else.

Remain vigilant, stay alert, act in spite of your fear. Stay Safe.

Related articles

• Campus Life Blog: Handguns on Campus (smudailymustang.com)
• PLU campus safety refers two students to administration in theft of student newspapers (thenewstribune.com)
• Letter: Guns on Campus (nytimes.com)