Page 304 - Keys To Community College Success

To be safe, get an HIV test at your doctor’s office or at a government-sponsored
clinic. Your school’s health department may also administer HIV tests, and home HIV
tests are available over the counter. Consider requiring any of your sexual partners to
be tested as well. If you are infected, inform all sexual partners and seek medical assis-
tance. If you’re interested in contacting support organizations in your area, call the
National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-AIDS.

HOW CAN YOU STAY SAFE AND
avoid sexual assault?

10 Staying safe is a part of staying well and reducing stress. Crime is a reality on
CHAPTER campus just as it is in any community. Alcohol- and drug-related offenses may
occur more frequently than other crimes on campus. Women are particularly vul-
nerable to sexual assault. By law, colleges are required to report crime statistics
yearly. For a link to statistics by school and for other helpful information, visit
www.securityoncampus.org.

Personal Safety Strategies
Making intelligent choices is a crucial part of staying safe. Take these practical measures
to prevent incidents that jeopardize your well-being.
Be aware of safety issues. Every college has its particular issues—problematic areas
of the campus, particular celebrations that get out of hand, bad habits such as students
propping open security doors. With awareness, you can steer clear of problems and
even work to improve them.
Avoid situations that present clear dangers. Don’t walk or exercise alone at night,
especially in isolated areas. Don’t work or study alone in a building. If a person looks
suspicious, contact someone who can help.

Avoid drugs or overuse of alcohol. Anything that impairs judgment makes you
vulnerable to assault. Avoid driving while impaired or riding with someone who has
taken drugs or alcohol. Avoid attending large parties where people are binge drinking.
It’s too easy for rape to occur when someone is inebriated.
Avoid people who make you uneasy. If you feel threatened by anyone inside or
outside of classes, tell an instructor or campus security. If you feel uncomfortable with
someone, trust your intuition and get away from him or her. Stay alert and make no
assumptions. As Kelly found out, danger can lurk even with a friend whom you think
you can trust.

Be wary of dangers online. Don’t give out personal information online to people
whom you don’t know well. If you have a Facebook page or Instagram, be careful
about the text and photos you post. If you feel that someone is harassing you by email
or IM, contact an advisor or counselor (you may want to save the messages as proof
of harassment).
Review your immunizations. Your success in college also depends on your ability
to fight off infections and diseases. College students living on campus should pay par-
ticular attention to the meningococcal meningitis vaccine (this protects you against an
infection that results in the swelling and inflammation of the spinal cord and brain),
and women under 26 should look into the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine (this
protects you against an infection that attacks the skin and mucous membranes, often
causing cervical cancer).

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