Safe Living

Safety in the Residence Halls may not be the first thought on a student's mind, but it should be their main concern. While on-campus housing offers a great place to meet new friends and socialize, it can also be dangerous if the proper precautions aren't taken. With a solid security plan and some safeguards in place, you can stay safe in your home away from home.

Have a Personal Security Plan

• Do you know how to contact University Public Safety? (507) 537-7252
  
  
• Where is the University Public Safety located? Founders Hall 108 First Floor
  
  
• What do I do in an emergency? Emergency Procedures

The answers to the previous questions should be as important to you as those on an important exam. Once you know your schedule, it's very important to share that information with your family and someone you trust as part of your security plan. Planning different walking routes between classes and your dorm is a great way to protect yourself from being followed. University Public Safety encourages the "Buddy System" when students travel from dorms and residences to the downtown area for a night of relaxation and entertainment. The "Buddy System" also works if you are out late working on a class project or studying.

Security awareness is crucial in a residence hall. Hallways that contain multiple dorm rooms should be thought of as small neighborhoods, which often have a lot of visitor traffic. If you notice anything suspicious happening in or around your dorm, don't hesitate to notify the University Public Safety. Perhaps some of your neighbors' things have mysteriously gone missing. Or perhaps you've noticed a shady character lurking near your building's front door at night, trying to gain entry without a key. Voicing your concerns to the relevant authority helps prevent future criminal activity. If your intuitions are correct, staying silent may come back to haunt you.

Security in your Residence Hall Room

Students don't always have the luxury of knowing who they will be rooming with. To protect against this uncertainty, consider investing in dorm room security products, such as room safes, insurance, and laptop locks, to keep your belongings safe and secure. Room safes can be as inconspicuous as a book or can blend in with a drawer without notice. Locking up jewelry, checkbooks, and other valuables when not around can deter would-be snatch-and-grab thieves. Remember, out of sight, out of mind!

Valuables that don't fit in a safe or are uninsurable could benefit from something as simple as labeling or engraving them. Labeled items help resolve ownership disputes and serve as a simple yet effective theft deterrent. It is always a good idea to record the serial numbers of all your valuables and keep that information in a safe place for future reference, should it be needed.

Dormitories may seem like a fun and safe environment, but a simple way to reduce the risk of theft is to keep your doors locked at all times when you're not in your room. Keeping your door locked while you sleep at night is also a good measure to keep intruders out – even if you think your hallway is safe. Roommates must understand the importance of keeping doors locked to safeguard their possessions and themselves.

When entering and exiting your dorm room or building, ensure the door behind you closes and secures properly. Do not allow anyone to enter your room or building that you don't know. The practice of holding the door for multiple persons, known as "piggybacking," should be avoided. This practice can allow individuals aiming to enter the building illegally to access not only the lobby but also the hallways and neighborhoods within the community. Remember to treat your Residence Hall and House as if it were your neighborhood back home. Get to know your neighbors and encourage each other to keep items out of sight, doors locked, and to remain vigilant in their surroundings.

Fire Safety

Accidents in crowded dorms can often lead to fire mishaps. Smoke alarms should be working and checked regularly. Hairdryers, curling irons and straighteners should be unplugged when not in use and should never be left unattended. Do not use candles in the dorm room; cook only in the designated kitchen area. Know your escape routes for your building, and when the alarms sound, evacuate. Some simple, common-sense fire safety precautions can keep everyone safe from everyday accidents.

More Housing Safety Tips

Although on-campus housing is often the best option for safety and security, many students opt for off-campus housing. When looking into rental properties, there are a few very basic safety features and policies that you should consider before signing a lease.

1. Doors should be made of metal or solid wood construction. Good deadbolt locks and peepholes are also a must.
2. Ensure that management changes the locks or permits the tenant to change them upon moving in.
3. Sliding glass doors should be secured with pins through the frame or have a "charlie bar" locking device.
4. Apartments located on the second floor or higher are safer. Being on the ground floor makes entry through windows easy. Ground-floor windows should be secured with pins through the frame or key lock latches.
5. Hallways and stairwells should be well-lit at night. Mirrors to help you see around hallway corners are also important.
6. Bushes and shrubbery should be well-maintained and cut back to a height below window level to reduce the risk of attackers hiding in them.
7. Is access to the complex limited to residents and guests?
8. Is there on-site security? Is there a neighborhood watch program?
9. Have there been any burglaries in the complex? If so, how did the burglars gain entry?
10. Ask management about the availability of extra keys to your apartment. If there are extra keys, ask how they are secured and who has access to them.
11. Ensure parking areas are well-lit at night and afford a clear line of sight to your apartment door.
12. Ask management if they have a policy against installing intrusion alarms in individual apartments. If not, installation of a simple alarm system might be a good option for additional security at a relatively low expense.

Keep in mind that looks can be deceiving. Just because a complex is new, it does not mean it is safe. Take a close look at the apartments you are considering. If they don't have the majority of the safety features listed above, you should probably keep looking. When it comes to your safety, you should not compromise.