Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Opinions

Our View
Situation:	Crimes happen on or around campus every year - most recently, last week.
Stance:	There are ways to prevent yourself from being a victim. Walking with someone familiar and trustworthy at night could help.

It's dark out. Walking across campus may not take long. Even that 15-minute walk up to the Square is just a short jaunt.

What could possibly happen in those 15 minutes? Last Thursday, several males allegedly assaulted a female on Ninth Street at about 1:15 a.m. The woman is an Eastern student. She could have been anyone.

Ninth Street could be better lit.

The university could put more emergency dispatch phones around town.

But nothing would keep students safer than simply walking with someone familiar after dark. It's especially important when alcohol is involved.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, "two-thirds of the violent incidents involving alcohol occur at night, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., with 10 percent occurring between 11 p.m. and midnight."

The U.S. Department of Justice said in 2002 an estimated 31 percent of victims attacked by strangers perceived their attackers to be under the influence of alcohol.

If you're stranded uptown, unaccompanied and without a ride, you should try to catch the Panther Express home instead of walking by yourself. It's scheduled to stop at the Square every 20 minutes between 11 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Thursdays and between 12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. And it's free.

Overall, in Illinois the crime rate index has fallen nearly 70 percent since 1994. This includes a whole spectrum of crimes, ranging from murder, sexual assault and robbery all the way to assault and battery and arson.

According to an InsideHigherEd.com report, campus crime rates in the United States have fallen 9 percent for violent crimes and almost 30 percent for property crimes at four-year institutions. However, whether we're on or off campus at night, it's always a good idea to carry a cell phone. But it's an even better idea to have someone with you.

Last year, the University Police Department recorded only two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated battery and one count of criminal sexual assault.

The numbers are fortunately low, but it's still evident that these things do occur on and around campus. They can happen to anyone who is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The UPD offers Rape Aggression Defense, a class for women only who want to learn ways to defend themselves, at the Student Recreation Center. Women can click here to fill out a R.A.D. form, or call (217) 581-3213 for more information about the class.

No one knows when a violent attack might happen. That's why walking along with someone you know and trust when it's dark is always, without exception, a bright idea.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools

The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.

Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.

Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.

If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.