Living on-campus is a great, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young adults. Individuals are able to meet new and interesting people and are allowed a chance to experience total freedom while still having the comfort of pre-paid meals and routinely cleaned living areas. Nevertheless, a college campus breeds at least a small amount of danger to the wellbeing of students. It is extremely important for students to recognize these possible threats and to understand how to handle specific situations.

"While walking around at night, use common logic. Try to travel in groups and in well-lit areas, if possible. Also, students need to be aware of the blue-lights that are spaced evenly around campus; they connect you to the police, who are on duty 24/7," said Ingrid Peterson, Violence Prevention Specialist on the UW-La Crosse campus.  

Other suggestions Peterson offers are to hit the "panic" button on a set of keys (if one has a newer model automobile), to have a cellular phone handy at all times, and to carry either mace or a "rape" whistle to alert others if an attack occurs.

This is not just a word of precaution. Incidents including robbery and other types of attack happen on UW campuses each year. Last year alone, there were multiple occurrences throughout the UW-system schools, including UW-L. This year has been relatively uneventful so far but a report of an attack was addressed prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Nothing too serious occurred, but this prompted staff, police, and students to worry.  

Another aspect of safety during a student's time here at UW-L is the perils of going to parties, where alcohol use is prevalent. "This is my take-home message for students:  Ninety percent of the time, women are assaulted by people they know. The number one date-rape drug is alcohol. Every single semester, there are cases reported about this, making it much more common and more of a threat to people here than random attacks on the street," said Peterson.

If you keep these valuable pieces of advice in mind, while walking home from a party or on your way to a get-together, you may just save your own wallet, dignity, and even life.