EXPERTS SAY

Dorothy said it best in the Wizard of Oz when she told Toto that we are not in Kansas any more! Likewise, you are not in the comfort of your hometown any more either. Most college campuses are located in the downtown or metropolitan areas of a city. Although your campus may not be located in downtown Chicago or in the middle of Los Angeles, you still need to be very cautious and aware of your personal safety.

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, a crime is committed every two seconds, and unfortunately too many crimes occur on a college campus. College students become the prey of many criminals, because many college students are naive to the fact that crime does, and will, occur. Property crimes are much more common on a college campus than violent crimes. According to the 1994 statistics of the Campus Security Act, 37% of colleges experienced a burglary on campus, while 23% reported at least one motor vehicle theft. Colleges and Universities that offer on-campus housing report higher crime rates on campus. Students who reside in campus housing are potential victims of on-campus crime 24 hours a day. Students living on campus are obviously more at risk that students who commute to campus just for class. It is important to note that students living off-campus are just as susceptible to crime, they are more likely to be involved in off-campus crime. The Campus Security Act only discloses crimes that were reported and occur on-campus.

On-campus arrests for liquor law violations are probably the most commonly reported crime. In 1994, colleges and Universities in the United States reported 20,400 arrests for liquor law violations. This figure only includes arrests made on campus, and it does not include the liquor law violations that college students commit off campus.

Many college campuses have done a fantastic job at making the campus a safe environment that discourages crime and is uninviting to criminals. However, many crimes occur just off the campus as students return to campus from their favorite night spots.

Use your COMMON SENSE! Don't make it easy for a criminal to allow you to become their next victim. College students generally make great crime victims; they tend to be trusting, helpful and outgoing. If you see someone hanging out in an area on campus where they do not belong, notify the campus security office immediately. You might very well be helping the next potential victim from becoming just that -- a victim! Everyone has some responsibility in making the campus a safe and crime-free environment.