Wow! You’ve been a college student for almost a month now. Crazy, right?
Let’s face it, not everything we do in college qualifies as one of our best ideas. We know you’re here to have fun AND get an education, but let’s stay safe.
Here’s some resources to keep you safe while on and off campus:
Let’s break it down.
Orange Shield is OSU’s nifty app that gives users access to features like:
- Immediate police contact.
- Safe Walk. At the push of a button, a trained public service officer will walk you safely across campus between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. after that late-night trip to The Curty Shack, of course. (Wink, wink)
- Bus Tracker allows you to see the routes and schedules of The BUS. It even tells you where the buses are on campus.
- iReports lets you report crimes by text with the option to include photos and videos. The report goes directly to OSU Police and can be anonymous.
- Peer-to-peer text alert system.
- A personal profile with important medical information about you.
Personal Space
Walking on campus at night is one thing, but you still need to be safe in your own room.
Lock it or Lose it
- Lock up when you leave your room and while you sleep.
- BUT DON’T LOCK YOUR KEYS IN YOUR ROOM! Being locked out of your own room in only a towel because you were running late to class and ran to take a quick shower is definitely not fun.
Your Ride
- Roll your windows up and lock your car.
- Carry your car keys with you when walking to your car.
- Be well-aware of your surroundings.
You’ve probably met a few people with sticky fingers before, and we’re not talking about toddlers. Make sure to keep your possessions safe. You can never be too cautious.
Bystander Intervention
Speaking of being cautious...bystander intervention is a huge part of your social responsibility. What is a bystander intervention? This means you stop incidents before they occur.
This could mean:
- Drinking and driving
- Theft
- Sexual violence.
- We have already mentioned this to you though. Don’t remember? Read about it!
Great, you’re back!
So now you know how to be a bystander, but do you know where to report crimes?
If the crime is in progress:
- Call 911. We cannot stress this enough.
If the crime has already happened:
- Call the OSU Police Department and make a report ASAP.
Want a few more tips on campus safety?
Check out the #AskTheExperts with OSU Chief of Police Leon Jones and Public Information Officer Carrie Hulsey-Greene. They cover everything from campus safety, personal safety and the Orange Shield app.
Most importantly, the OSU community wants you to feel safe at all times. Your #CowboyFamily is always here for you.
STAY SAFE AND GO POKES!