 "Photo: Jonny Green")
Aggies can stay safe by being aware of their surroundings.
"Keep your head up, shoulders back, head on a swivel, make eye contact and say howdy," said University Police Officer Kristi Hosea, a crime prevention specialist.
She said the reason for saying howdy is not just a tradition, but to assert dominance over the situation.
"By appearing assertive, you are letting [a potential criminal] know that you know what they look like," she said. "That's assertive. Once they know that you know what they look like, you immediately become less of a target."
The University Police Department works with groups and organizations including Physical Plant Utilities and Physical Plant Landscape Maintenance to help insure the safety of students.
"We make sure that the landscape is trimmed, there's adequate lighting and that the emergency phones are in working order," Hosea said.
She said if a student was ever to have to use an emergency blue light phone, the student would just need to call police, and they would know ethe exact location of the student based on which phone was used.
UPD has meetings with organizations like the Security Awareness Committee at the end each month to make sure that things are in proper working order and all problems are being addressed.
Another way students can make themselves less of a target for a criminal or attacker is to not walk alone at night. Instead, students should use resources provided by the University such as Corps escorts or Texas A&M buses.
While UPD works to keep the campus safe, there are things students can do to make it safer.
"If you feel unsafe, listen to your instincts," Hosea said. "If you feel unsafe going between two dimly lit buildings at night and you get scared, chances are there's a reason. Exit, and walk around the buildings. There are about 100 officers here. The campus is safe, but only as safe as you help us make it."
While students can't control someone else's behavior, a student can reduce the opportunity presented to that person.
"Make sure you stay with trustworthy friends, and the most important thing is to make responsible decisions, because once you stop making those responsible decisions is when bad things can happen," said Officer Dee Donovan, a crime prevention specialist for the UPD.
While some students feel safe on campus, others don't find that comfort.
"I've had experiences on Northgate where I've been spit on, but that's the only place I've ever experienced anything like that. I mean, I think the people on campus seem nice," said Amol Vaidya, a junior physics major.
His friend told a different story, though, about his personal opinions regarding safety on campus.
"I'm a 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pound man. I don't think I have anything to worry about. I feel safe. I have some friends that feel scared when they walk alone at night, though," said Luke Burgess, a junior agriculture leadership major. "I think walking in groups helps with personal safety. The blue light phones help too, but I've never really seen anyone skulking around in the darkness."
One student said she doesn't always feel safe, and that she tries to stay away from campus, especially at night.
"The Clery Alerts help to raise awareness about safety, but the fact that all the bad things happen at night doesn't help," said Amanda Broussard, a junior accounting major. "I think the Corps Escorts make it safer. I've used them before. I mean, at night the campus just looks creepy, but in general, I do feel pretty safe. At night I try to go where the people are.
"I've heard of people being in class and having their cars being broken into. I would call authorities if I saw something like that happen, because I would want someone to do the same thing if it were me."
Be the first to comment on this article!