Campus After Dark: 3 Tips to Staying Safe at Night

By Jared Hart

Ever find yourself out late at night on campus alone? Drank too much at the club and don’t have a ride home? Late nighter at the library to ace that exam the next day? Staying out late during college can be a great experience: hanging out with friends, partying at clubs and sometimes drinking a little too much, but sometimes you can put your safety at risk. Staying safe at night is something that all college students should be aware of and take into consideration.

Here are 3 tips to help you out:

1. Never walk alone at night – You have heard this a million times but it the number one rule that should be followed. Plan out ahead of time that you are going to be with, walk with and go home with from an event. There are many options on various college campuses to help with including late night campus pick up vehicles and buses. Recently, here at University of Florida a new program, called Walk Safe has been implemented, where volunteers can assist people late at night by walking with them if they are alone.
2. Avoid dark places that are not well lit – These can be hot spots for sexual assaults to happen as they hide the intruder and makes it an easy target for anyone walk alone in these places. Try and walk in places with good lighting and in more populated areas.
3. Limit your alcohol use – Many college students may think it’s cool to outdrink your peers, but getting too drunk and not knowing where you are can lead to many consequences. Making sure you have a ride home if you intend to drink is very important. Having a peer keep an eye on you during the night is also a good idea.

Always make sure that you take these tips in mind when going out or staying out late at night around campus. Safety should always be your number one priority… and remember… DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

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