Situational Awareness

When students come to college they accept new responsibilities, including taking appropriate measures to ensure their own personal safety. In combination with OSU's efforts to maintain a safe living and learning environment, the University encourages students to follow these safety tips to protect themselves.

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Sometimes, especially in cases of sexual or domestic violence, safety tips can border on blaming the victim for not taking these steps to prevent their victimization. OSU wants to be very clear that victims are in no way at fault for anything that happened to them, regardless of the circumstances. So, these safety tips are a great resource but should never be reason for placing blame on victims.

 

In Your Residence

• Keep your room door locked when you are napping/sleeping or not in your room.
• Never let unauthorized persons come into your room, enter residence halls, or enter apartment security doors. Always ask to see proper identification.
• Never prop open inside or outside doors.
• Do not hide keys outside of your room or apartment. Do not put your name or address on your key rings.
• Avoid working or studying alone in a campus building.
• Never dress in front of a window. Close blinds or curtains after dark.
• If you are awakened by an intruder inside your room, do not attempt to apprehend the intruder. Try to get an accurate description of the intruder and then call the police.
• Any suspicious activity should be reported to the OSU Police immediately.

Protecting Your Possesions

• Keep your room door locked when you are napping/sleeping or not in your room.
• Never let unauthorized persons come into your room, enter residence halls, or enter apartment security doors. Always ask to see proper identification.
• Never prop open inside or outside doors.
• Do not hide keys outside of your room or apartment. Do not put your name or address on your key rings.
• Avoid working or studying alone in a campus building.
• Never dress in front of a window. Close blinds or curtains after dark.
• If you are awakened by an intruder inside your room, do not attempt to apprehend the intruder. Try to get an accurate description of the intruder and then call the police.
• Any suspicious activity should be reported to the OSU Police immediately.

Driving Safety

• Carry your car keys when approaching your vehicle so you can enter quickly.
• Always check underneath your car upon approach and in the rear seat for intruders before entering your automobile.
• Lock your doors and keep windows rolled up whenever possible.
• Drive on well-traveled and well-lit streets.
• Never hitchhike, and never pick up hitchhikers.
• If someone tries to enter your stopped vehicle, sound the horn and drive to a safe area such as a convenience store.
• If your vehicle breaks down, ask any person who offers to help to call the police. Do not allow any person access to you or inside your car. Roll down your window no more than an inch. Be aware that an accident may be staged to provide the driver who hits you an opportunity to commit a criminal act.
• Leave enough room between your car and the one ahead so you can drive around it if necessary.
• Call ahead when driving to your home or apartment late at night and have someone watch you walk from your car to the residence.
• Limit distractions such as cell phones.

When Jogging or Walking

• Avoid walking or jogging alone, and avoid walking or joging after dark.
• Avoid dark or vacant areas. Walk along well-lit routes.
• Be alert to your surroundings. If you suspect you are being followed: Run in a different direction, go to the other side of the street and yell for help, or move quickly to a lit area, a group of people, or a blue light emergency phone.
• Have your keys ready when returning to your residence hall or apartment. Keep your personal or valuable items concealed and close to your body.
• Avoid wearing headphones when walking or jogging. Always be aware of your surroundings and practice risk avoidance techniques.

Socially

• Do not give out your personal information including phone number, email address, social media username, etc. to individuals you have not developed a level of trust with.
• If you perceive communication from another individual to be inappropriate, makes you uncomfortable, or is threatening do not respond.
• Do not put your daily schedule, phone number, or address online.
• Make sure you trust any online website with which you choose to share your personal information (especially financial information like credit cards).
• Before going to a party where alcohol will be present, make a plan, know your limits, and appoint a sober driver.
• At a party stay and leave with the friends you came with.
• Make your own drink and keep your drink in your hands at all times.
• If someone is pressuring you into drinking, remove yourself from the situation.