(The Whit Staff)
Following the shooting just off campus this past Sunday morning, students and parents have raised concerns about the overall safety of the university. This is understandable. We all want to feel safe, but some things, including outside disturbances from the surrounding community, are sometimes unavoidable, whether it be on Rowan’s campus, off campus, or in the world at large.
The Whit Staff would like to be clear: if something happens to you or if someone commits a crime against you, it is not, by any means, your fault.
And while you can’t control the actions of others, there are things that we as students and as people in the world can do to protect ourselves, and hopefully make us and others feel a little safer, and feel a sense of control in our day-to-day lives.
Rowan Public Safety is doing its part to help protect students, but there is a level of personal responsibility that can not only prevent crime from happening but can also give a person a sense of bodily autonomy and power over their own safety.
Not staying out too late is one way to avoid crime. If you do stay out late though, one simple way students can protect themselves is by using the “buddy system.” If you’re walking home or to and from a party, take someone, or better yet, multiple people with you. The Rowan Safe app, designed by the Rowan University Police Department, is a great tool for students. You can request campus security to walk you, and get 24/7 access to the blue light boxes to call for help if there is an emergency.
Rowan also offers self-defense classes, which are especially helpful in learning how to defend yourself. You can also take any other kind of mixed martial arts class, carry pepper spray, or a personal safety alarm with you as well for added protection.
The Whit Staff’s biggest tip for personal protection, however, is situational awareness. What sounds simple is often the difference between your safety and your safety being in jeopardy. When you’re at a party, know what’s in your cup, and control who touches and goes near your cup. When you’re walking, stay off your phone and look around. Know who’s walking around you, and notice who is standing nearby. Rowan Police remind you, “If you see something, say something.” What looks suspicious to you may actually be a threat. Prevention is in your hands, too. Report suspicious activity to Rowan Police.
None of these things will one-hundred-percent prevent bad people from doing bad things. But prevention starts with you. Personal protection is extremely helpful, and everyone should be aware of their surroundings and get comfortable identifying and reporting threats.