Preventing Sexual Assault

• Keep doors locked at all times.
• When moving into a house or apartment, change or re-key all locks.
• If door keys have been lost, change locks or re-key immediately.
• When returning home, have your keys ready and enter the house as quickly as possible
• If you sense that something is not right, do not go into your home or apartment. Call the police.
• Avoid going out alone at night.
• Do not leave clubs or night spots with strangers or invite them to your apartment or home.
• Do not give your name, phone number or address to a telephone caller.
• Never give a caller any reason to think you are home alone.
• Hang up on obscene or frightening phone calls. If they persist, blow a whistle loudly into the mouthpiece. Pick up the harassing phone call log and write down the date, time, and what was said and heard in each call.
• If threatening or obscene calls persist, report them to Public Safety.
• In public elevators: 
  • Stand near the control panel.
  • Familiarize yourself with the emergency buttons on the elevator.
  • Look inside the elevator to be certain no one is hiding inside before getting on.
  • Get off if someone suspicious enters. If you are worried about someone who is waiting for the elevator with you, pretend you forgot something, and do not get on it
  • Do not enter an elevator if there is a person on it whom you are suspicious of. Wait for the next elevator.
  • If you are attacked, push the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.
• While walking:
• Try not to over load yourself with packages.
• Vary your daily routine.
• Avoid walking alone at night.
• Only walk on busy, well lighted streets.
• Do not walk too closely to the inside of a sidewalk, near bushes, alley entrance, driveways or entrances to private places.
• Do not walk through dark parking lots, parks or other dark places.
• Carry a whistle. You may pick up a free whistle at the Department of Public Safety main office in University Center Room 310 during normal business hours.
• If a car approaches and the driver bothers you, walk in the opposite direction.
• If someone asks you for directions from their car, walk over to a neighbor's house, open business or other well lighted place where there should be people to help you.
• If you arrive home by taxi or with a friend, ask them to wait until you are inside your home.
• Do not hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.