Whether you live in Ohio University housing or commute to campus from your Athens Ohio rental housing, keep your safety in mind while on campus and in the community. Freshmen especially may not know they are vulnerable to crime at OU and in Athens. If you’re living in an off-campus rental in Columbus, the potential risk of crime is even higher than in Athens, for obvious reasons. You’re in the middle of a big city.
The good news is that you can take precautions to stay safe. We’re not talking about carrying an arsenal or becoming adept at ninja moves, but do follow these tips while attending college in Athens or Columbus to maximize your safety.
- With your headphones on, you’re in another world and far from being focused your safety. Whenever walking about the OU or OSU campus, keep your ears and eyes alert to what’s happening around you. This is not only a good rule for safety but for enjoying life as well.
- Don’t walk alone in the dark or at night. Whenever possible, practice the buddy system and walk with one or more friends or trusted acquaintances. If trouble arises, call the OU/OSU Police Department if on campus or the Athens/Columbus Police if off campus. Outside Athens city limits, your go-to law enforcement is the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, or outside Columbus, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
- Keep cash and a credit card on hand at all times to pay for a ride or get out of an uncomfortable situation. But don’t carry big wads of cash.
- Campuses these days, including Ohio University, have emergency phones or call buttons, though these are being phased out in favor of smartphone apps that serve the same purpose but are more efficient and more likely to be used. At OU, it’s called the Bobcat Safe App and is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. The app offers more than 50 features, including emergency resources, interactive maps, advanced location services, crime reporting and a host of push notifications for OU’s Athens campus. Ohio State has a similar app, along with other safety protocols and programs.
- Learn ASAP how to navigate around campus, whether the massive Ohio State grounds or the smaller but still sprawling OU campus. In addition, learn how to get around Athens and the University District area of Columbus, depending on which school you’re attending. The campus and uptown are closely linked and overlap in some places. You’ll get to know much of your campus just going to and from class, but depending on your schedule, there will be lots of areas that you’re unfamiliar with.
- Avoid inebriation in social settings. Drunk students can become the victims of self-harm or foul play, not only from strangers but people they know.
- Program emergency numbers into your phone, including someone you trust whom you can call for help.
- Carry pepper spray, a loud whistle or take self-defense classes so you have some options if attacked.
- If you go out or otherwise hang out with someone whom you don’t know very well, tell your friends what you’re doing, and promise to check in later in the evening. Maybe choose to have a third party accompany you if you have any doubts about a new companion.
- Take care not to get swept into incidents of vandalism or other misbehavior as a result of hanging out with the wrong people. Peer group pressure is probably the number one cause of bad behavior on campus. Of course, if you’re the one who’s a bad influence, then straighten up!
- Plan your evening ahead of time, and try to stick to that plan as much as possible. A lot of bad things can happen if you have a few beers, and make a rash decision to change your whole evening’s itinerary.