| It may surprise you to know that college and | | | | video surveillance. At the very least, |
| university campuses are scenes to more than | | | | residence halls should be monitored, and |
| just socializing and learning. All too often, | | | | nighttime access should be limited to |
| they can also be the scenes of a crime. | | | | residents only. Room doors should be equipped |
| Awareness of this problem has grown | | | | with peep holes and dead bolts. Bathrooms are |
| dramatically over the last twenty years, and | | | | safer when restricted to floor residents. For |
| many institutions are taking appropriate | | | | peace of mind, you may see if single-sex and |
| measures to protect their students from | | | | "substance-free" dormitories are available. |
| malice. Wise parents do not close their eyes | | | | Crime is lower in these halls. |
| to these issues, but discuss them openly with | | | | |
| their students. When choosing schools for | | | | Another important deterrent against sexual |
| their sons or daughters, they consider the | | | | predators is awareness. Your student should |
| security programs and features utilized by | | | | study the campus and neighborhood with |
| the schools. You must do all you can to | | | | respect to routes between his or her |
| ensure that your student doesn't get an | | | | residence and classes/activities schedule. |
| education they didn't plan for. | | | | Parking lots should be adequately secured, |
| | | | lit and patrolled. Many campuses offer |
| Drugs and Alcohol | | | | emergency phones, escort services, and |
| | | | shuttle systems so that students should never |
| Nine out of ten student felonies involve | | | | have to compromise their safety by walking |
| alcohol or drugs. Annually, 1,700 college | | | | across campus alone after dark. These are |
| students die from alcohol-related causes. On | | | | free services that have dramatically |
| their own for the first time, students often | | | | decreased crime. |
| feel a surge of independence that can lead to | | | | |
| poor decision-making, such as binge drinking. | | | | Theft |
| There are many resources available to help | | | | |
| parents discuss substance use with their | | | | College students are often the target of |
| young adult children. Meanwhile, when | | | | fraudulent identity-theft and credit card |
| choosing a school favor institutions with | | | | schemes. Make sure your student is savvy |
| strict policies regarding alcohol and drug | | | | about personal information. They should never |
| abuse, and effective parent-notification. In | | | | leave bill payments, credit card offers, |
| this way, colleges and universities keep | | | | health insurance statements, or any personal |
| better control of this problem. | | | | mail lying around. Instruct them never to |
| | | | give personal information over the phone to |
| Sexual Offenses | | | | any company unless they initiated the call, |
| | | | and they know the company is reputable. |
| Unfortunately, 25% of undergraduate women | | | | Caution students not to give out their social |
| nationally will be victims of an attempted or | | | | security numbers to obtain credit cards or |
| completed sexual assault. Many schools have | | | | memberships, and to keep a personal record of |
| embraced innovative technological solutions | | | | all such cards, with expiration dates and |
| in an effort to protect their students. | | | | company phone numbers in a locked drawer or |
| Residence halls that use electronic key-card | | | | cabinet. PIN numbers should not be kept in |
| systems are superior to the ones still using | | | | wallets, and should never incorporate |
| old-fashioned metal locks, and most commons | | | | birthdates, social security numbers, |
| areas of dormitories are now outfitted with | | | | telephone numbers or addresses. |