Washington DC — In light of the tragedy that occurred at Michigan State University that left three students dead and five students critically injured, two issues have been made exceedingly evident: (1) gun violence is occurring at an increased rate at schools, colleges, and other areas occupied by civilians and (2) taking necessary safety precautions on campus needs to be highlighted now more than ever.
Gun violence, however, is not the only type of violence that frequents college campuses. As a first-year student at Howard University (a university located in the very middle of Washington DC), I am unfortunately not new to situations of violence and crime on or near campus. The administration reminds us of the crime occurring around campus with regular crime alerts. Just last month, a student was robbed near campus.
Here are some safety tips to follow when traveling on or around campus:
*At night, never travel alone. In a metropolitan environment such as DC, there are a lot of suspicious and sometimes dangerous people roaming the streets or even the college. Safety is in numbers!
*Stay aware of your surroundings. If you feel uneasy or anxious in a certain area, if you feel uncomfortable with the people you are with, even if ANYTHING feels a little off trust your gut.
*Share your location with friends. In case your phone dies or you are put into a dangerous situation, always make sure that your friends know where you are so that they can find ways to help.
This guest post is in partnership with True Star Media.