Personal Safety

On campus, 72% of crimes occur at night; these include rape, assault, theft, and stalking. Many of these crimes are committed by someone the person knows. How well can you identify unsafe, or even less safe, situations? How can you best prepare yourself to keep yourself and others safe at college, at work and at home?

" Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

Helen Keller

Looking Back:
A Self-Reflection

What does personal safety mean to you?

Check out our worksheet.

Quiz Ideas

  • Do you know how to be safe on and off campus? With friends? By yourself? Use this campus survival quiz to enhance your skills.
  • How much do you know about personal safety? At home? At work? Traveling? Take this test to find out.

Moving Ahead:
The Challenge

What responsibility do you have for your own safety?

Check out our worksheet.

Articles

Campus Resources

  • University Police Department
    The University Police Department provides a safe and secure environment for all university employees, students and guests, and they provide orientation sessions on safety procedures, alcohol and drug awareness. They embrace the community policies and work collaboratively with academic and administrative units, as well as individuals and organizations.
  • Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education and Services
    WAVES helps students make healthy, safe choices and encourage lifelong, thoughtful healthy decision-making through individualized support, creative, programming, and evidence-based education and outreach. They help students feel empowered and have the capacity to grow to their full potential and reach optimal wellness and well-being. WAVES offers information on alcohol including staying sober, sober rides, safer drinking, talking to others about their alcohol use and more.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services
    CAPS provides a wide range of free services to students, which are provided by a staff of professional clinical psychologists, social workers, counselors, learning specialists, and psychiatric providers. They offer individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, and outreach programs, as well as other resources.

Additional Resources

  • Fairfax County Crime Prevention & Awareness
    Fairfax County Crime Prevention is a member of the Neighborhood Watch program. This web site has a list of helpful tips on such topics as child safety , personal safety, domestic violence, financial crimes, workplace crimes, speaking up if you see something and more.
  • Fairfax County Women’s Self-Defense
    Fairfax County offers Sexual Assault Free & Empowered (SAFE), which is a self-defense program administered by the Fairfax County Police Department. SAFE is dedicated to empowering women with knowledge to reduce the occurrence of sexual assault crimes by taking an active role in their own self-defense and psychological well-being.
  • The Women’s Center
    The Women’s Center helps women suffering from emotional, physical, or psychological abuse in the Northern Virginia area. They provide resources that women call and use to help them end the cycle of domestic violence and abuse. This site also provides general safety tips, sexual assault tips, computer safety tips, myths and facts, stalking information, dating violence information and more.
  • Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
    Virginia Sexual Domestic Violence Action Alliance is a recognized leader in Virginia’s response to sexual and domestic violence. They offer facts, information on how to get help, training and education, media information, resources for professionals, and additional links.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    The CDC has helped protect people from violence and injury by researching the best ways to prevent violence and injuries, using science to create real-world solutions to keep people safe, healthy, and productive. They offer specific information regarding violence prevention, programs and initiatives and media in all populations.
  • About.com Crime
    About.com Crime offers the top 10 college campus safety guidelines for students to stay safe at college and to help them know their college’s emergency policies and procedures. This information will help decrease the likelihood of them becoming a victim of a crime. They also offer links to related safety topics.
  • Rape Aggression Defense
    R.A.D. Systems is a national standard program of self-defense tactics and techniques for women. It is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance.
  • National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
    National Coalition Against Domestic Violence builds coalitions at the local, state, regional and national levels, offering support for the provision of community-based, non-violent alternatives such as safe home and shelter programs for battered women and their children. It also offers public education and technical assistance, and gets involved in public policy development and innovative legislation.