To my younger sisters and all young women

When you are a kid, you are taught to fear adults, at least the ones you don’t know but, when you come to college the world is different and suddenly stranger danger applies to people your own age.  

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 1 in 5 women reported being sexually assaulted during their lifetime with 79.6% of them being assaulted  before age 25. College women are often the most at risk for assault.  

Because of this there are unspoken rules that women on college campuses follow, rules created to help keep you safe, made by women who learned the hard way.  

My hope is that you will never have to learn the hard way how to be safe. Here is just a few rules to follow to keep you safe. 

 >Never go out alone at night. If you do, don’t wear earbuds, you want to be able hear anyone approaching you. Call someone or at least pretend to, it will keep people from approaching you.  

>Always lock your door. Most dorm rooms are labeled with your name, this gives anyone access to where you live. Make sure your door is always locked to ensure that no one is in there waiting for you.  

>The first time you meet up with a guy, bring a friend with you. If you do go alone, make sure that your friends know your location. Text them when you get to your date and at least once an hour.

>Every college has a place. That place that everyone talks about where girls shouldn’t go alone. Don’t go there. 

>If you go to a party, it doesn’t matter how full a drink is, the moment you set it down, don’t pick it back up. If you do pick up a drink again, most date rape drugs have a bitter after taste. If you suspect that your drink has been spiked put it down and head home. Always get and open your own drinks.  

>If someone is following you in a vehicle, take note of the license plate, make and model. Write it down or text it to someone, so if you don’t make it back, they know where to look.  

>When asked for your number by someone you don’t want to give it to, give them a fake number and name. Don’t tell them where you live or work. Make sure that they don’t have pictures of you or your friends.  

>Be willing to use protective items. Pepper spray, keys, alarms and tasers are good items to keep on you at all times. Learn self-defense, even if its just through an online class.  

>Always lock your car when you are not in it. Check under your car before you get in and always check the backseat before sitting down. If there is money or notes on your windshield do not approach unless there is someone with you, human traffickers may use this to kidnap victims.  

>Park in areas that are public and well lit. Never park your vehicle where it can’t be seen from a residence.  

>Do not let your phone die. Your phone is the best way to track you and for you to contact emergency services.  

>If you are sexually assaulted, call the police yourself, insist on getting a rape kit done. 

>Be a friend to those women you are not friends with, guard their drinks, don’t let them go upstairs alone. Drive them home when they need it and don’t let other women be uncomfortable with men alone. Protect them as you would yourself.

>Advocate. Advocate to stop violence and sexual harassment on college campuses.