Beginners Guide to Campus Safety
Real Talk on Staying Safe
It’s dark, you scan the parking lot while walking to your car, no one’s around. Your heart rate increases. Every time you leave the library late, you text your roomie your ETA. These are but a couple of the daily scenarios that stress us out as women. We just don't feel safe. The constant “what ifs”. You're not paranoid, you’re cautious and you take precautions. We’ve got your back.
The stats: 1 in 4 undergrad women will experience sexual assault during their college years. Research shows that there are actions you can take to reduce your risk, reclaim your confidence, your freedom, and your peace of mind.
We're not here to scare you. We're here to equip you. From dating, to ride shares to parties, this is your no-nonsense, starter guide to staying safe in the most common, high-risk campus situations—written by those of us who've been there, for students who deserve more than fear. Safety is a fundamental right, not something you hope for.
Nighttime: Solo Walks, Commutes, Study Sessions, Late Classes
Walking home alone after a 9 p.m. class sucks. You’re on edge, your eyes dart around to check your surroundings. You text a friend or family member.
Campus escort services, SafeWalk programs, and security shuttles significantly reduce isolation—a key risk factor for assault. Studies show that informing someone of your route and ETA increases safety and reduces that constant low-grade anxiety.
Tips to Stay Safe Walking Alone:
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Use campus safety resources—now, not later: Most universities offer free SafeWalk (buddy system), security escorts, or late-night shuttles. Review their policies and save these numbers in your phone today. Don't wait until you're already walking alone to figure it out.
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Share your location and ETA every time: Text a friend or family member with this information. This simple habit notifies someone where you are.
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Keep your phone charged: Get a power bank for your phone and always keep it with you. There are many low-cost, light-weight options available on Amazon, and a variety of retailers (Note: for best results, make sure the power bank is charged, LOL!).
Here a few you can check out:
https://www.anker.com/ca/products/a1664-maggo-10000mah-power-bank
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Practice situational awareness without losing your mind: Remove one earbud, keep your phone accessible (not buried in your bag), and note any public locations (e.g. café, shops, etc.) on your regular routes.
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Always trust your gut: If something feels off, leave immediately. Head toward lights, people, and open businesses. Your instincts are a trained survival skill. Listen to them.
Parties and Social Events: Drink Spiking, Isolation, and Social Pressure
You want to have fun, dance, laugh, and let loose. But every party also comes with that quiet voice: "Watch your drink. Stick with your friends. Don't get too wasted." The mental load is exhausting and makes it difficult to enjoy yourself.
There are several effective, low-cost drink-spiking prevention options to choose from: Nightcap drink cover is a drink cover disguised in a scrunchie that is worn on the wrist. DRINKSTRIPS offer nail stickers and spike test strips to see if your drink was already spiked.
Bystander intervention training and buddy systems significantly reduce risk. Research shows that setting alcohol limits in advance reduces impairment and improves decision-making.
Stay Safe While Partying:
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Use the buddy system: Arrive together, check-in regularly, and leave together. Agree on a code word/phrase (e.g., "I want a margarita") that signals: "I'm uncomfortable, let's get out of here."
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Protect your drink: Never leave beverages unattended. Accept drinks only from trusted sources (bartenders, sealed cans/bottles), avoid communal drinks. If you suspect your drink was tampered with, seek medical attention immediately.
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Everyone has different tolerances to alcohol, set drink limits that work for you: Decide how many drinks you'll have. Alternate alcoholic beverages with water or non-alcoholic options. Don’t drink on an empty stomach (carbs are your friend, LOL!). Research shows this reduces impairment.
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Recognize grooming tactics: If someone tries to separate you from your group, isolate you, take you to a different location or pressure you to drink more, these are potential red flags. Stay with your friends or a group. Trust your instincts.
Trusted People: Acquaintances, Classmates, Teammates, Dates, Colleagues, and Partners
This one's complicated. 9 out of 10 sexual assault victims knew their attacker. That guy from your sociology seminar? Your lab partner? Your boyfriend/partner? Unfortunately, familiarity doesn't equal safety.
The Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) program developed in 2000 is the only sexual assault resistance intervention proven to reduce situations by 50%—with benefits sustained for 2+ years. Assertiveness training and boundary-setting also reduce escalation.
How to keep safe:
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Set boundaries early: "I'm not comfortable with that," or "I need to go now." Research shows assertiveness reduces perpetrator escalation.
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Avoid isolated settings: Meet in public places in the early stages of dating. Don't go to private spaces (dorm rooms, apartments, etc.) until trust is firmly established over time.
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Learn EAAA principles: This evidence-based program teaches you to assess risk, acknowledge danger, and act decisively. Look for campus workshops or online modules.
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Save campus resources—before you need them: Know your counseling center, and sexual assault advocacy contacts. Download our resource template, fill it out, take a pic and pin it in your photos for easy access or use a personal safety app to have those numbers in one spot.
Classroom and Campus Spaces: Unwanted Attention and Harassment
24.5% of students experience sexual harassment on campus. That guy who won't stop staring? The professor who makes inappropriate comments? The teammate who sends creepy DMs? You're not imagining it. You're not alone.
Bystander intervention training increases willingness to intervene and boosts confidence in responding to harassment. Social norms campaigns (like Instagram reels) reinforce bystander behavior and reduce tolerance for harassment.
Your Action Plan:
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Document incidents—save everything: Messages, screenshots, notes with dates/times. This creates a record should you decide to report it later.
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Use bystander intervention skills—if you witness harassment: Intervene safely: distract, delegate (get help), or directly address the behavior.
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Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with Title IX policies, your university specific polices, codes of conduct and reporting pathways. You have the right to learn in a safe environment.
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Connect with advocates—they're on your side: Campus advocacy offices provide confidential support and help you understand options before deciding how to proceed.
After an Incident: Medical, Legal, and Emotional Support
If something happens, here's what to do:
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Get to safety first: Move to a populated, secure location immediately.
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Seek medical attention—even if you feel fine: Go to a hospital or sexual assault care center. Don't shower, brush teeth, or change clothes before a medical exam—this preserves evidence.
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Contact an advocate—they're confidential: Campus advocacy offices and RAINN (1-800-656-HOPE) provide confidential support, explain your options, and accompany you through medical or legal processes.
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Preserve digital evidence—save everything: Messages, screenshots, communications. Document visible injuries with photos.
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Write down what happened: As soon as you can, write a detailed account of the incident: background details (where were you, what was going on, etc.), your emotions and a timeline, if possible. Should you choose to file a report with the police or take any form of legal action, these details are essential. Following a dangerous situation, and as time passes details can be forgotten. No detail is too small or insignificant.
Build a Safety Mindset—Without Living in Fear
Constant vigilance is exhausting. Research shows that micro-habits, small, consistent safety practices become automatic over time, reducing mental load. Here's how to build safety habits that work:
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Practice daily: Situational awareness, group travel (when possible), and emergency prep become second nature with repetition.
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Join evidence-based training: Look for programs that combine de-escalation, crisis intervention, and physical skills—not just self-defense moves. Here are some potential workshops to check out:
https://www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca/
https://thedragonflycentre.com/training-workshops/
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Connect with community: Share resources and normalize safety conversations with friends.
You're not alone.
You don't have to do this alone. OurPwr, your personal safety solution, gives you exactly what you need: control, connection, and peace of mind.
Explore our resources, download our safety checklist, and join a community of students who refuse to live in fear.
You deserve to focus on your studies, your friendships, and your future — not on constantly scanning for danger. With the right knowledge, tools, and support, you can thrive on campus—safely, confidently, and freely.
Share this article with a friend. Together, we take OurPwr back.
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OurPwr puts safety at your fingertips. Discrete. Effective. Visit ourpwr.co to see how the app works!
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Create a community on the app of friends and loved ones who can be notified where you are and how to get to you.
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Action button activation for instant help.
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Automatic evidence collection, your phone is your witness.
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