US Campus Safety: Stay Aware

Those blue light poles saved my friend's life

Okay, maybe that's dramatic. But here's what happened.

My friend Mira was walking back to her dorm at 2am. She noticed a guy had been behind her for a few blocks. She started walking faster. He did too.

She ran to the nearest blue light pole — those emergency phones scattered around campus — and pressed the button.

Campus police showed up in less than 2 minutes. The guy took off.

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Blue Light system

Those poles with the blue lights? Each one is an emergency phone. You don't need a phone to use it. Just press the button and campus police will come.

Learn where they are on your campus before you need them.

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Campus police are different from city police

Campus police are there for campus issues. They're usually pretty responsive and friendly. They handle:

Crimes on campus

Escort services (yes, they will walk you home at night)

Car lockouts (yes, this actually happens)

General safety concerns

They're not the same as city police and won't fine you for minor campus violations. They exist to keep students safe.

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The alert systems

Your school has an alert system. Probably through email and text. The second you register, make sure you're signed up for:

Emergency notifications

Crime alerts

Weather closures

I kept ignoring those emails because they seemed like spam. Then there was a legitimate emergency (someone tried to break into cars in my building) and I had no idea until the next morning.

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Active shooter — I hate that I have to write this

The training they make you do during orientation? Take it seriously.

Run. Hide. Fight. In that order.

Run: If you can escape, do it. Leave your stuff behind.

Hide: If you can't run, hide. Lock the door if you can. Turn off the lights. Silence your phone.

Fight: Only as a last resort. Act with aggression. Throw things.

I took the training and thought it was kind of silly. Then I heard from a friend who actually had to use part of it. She didn't freeze — she knew what to do.

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Registrar holds — this one's random but important

If you ever forget to pay a parking ticket or violate some campus rule, they can put a hold on your diploma/records. You'll find out when you try to graduate.

Check your student portal periodically for holds. Deal with small issues before they become graduation blockers.