No student should feel unsafe walking on campus. However for many students, evening classes or late shifts at work require them to walk around campus after the sun goes down. With few people around, long walks on dimly lit paths can make them feel uneasy.
If you’ve felt this way, you’re not alone. Around 74 percent of college students feel unsafe walking on campus at night, according to a survey conducted by Clery Center, an organization dedicated to creating safer college campuses.
Fortunately, Boise State students have access to a variety of security services on campus that can calm their nerves and help them feel safer.
“At the beginning of the year, it felt kind of scary,” Genevieve Golightly, a freshman studying mechanical engineering, said. “But then I realized that there are the blue-light help buttons and security officers, so if something did happen, it’d be really easy to get help.”
The blue-light help buttons are one of Boise State’s most accessible and useful security features. You’ve probably noticed them — there are over 70 emergency phones located on and around campus. You’ll recognize them by their blue glowing lights.
These blue-light phones provide a fast and easy way to reach law enforcement in an emergency. The red button calls 911, and the black button calls the Department of Public Safety Communications Center. Calls are traced to the phone’s exact location, allowing security to respond quickly.
There are also security services available to students that they can access directly from their cell phones.
“Students should download the RAVE Guardian app,” Alyssa DeLeon Guerrero, event parking operations manager in the Transportation, Parking and Safety Systems Department, said. “It’s a super helpful app that connects directly to campus security dispatch.”
“You can say it’s going to take you five minutes to walk to your car and then set a timer,” DeLeon Guerrero said. “If that timer goes off and you don’t turn it off, Campus Security will call you, and if you don’t answer, they’ll come find you. They can ping your location from that, and I think that’s super helpful.”
If you don’t feel comfortable walking alone, campus security provides options so you don’t have to.
“Students should also be aware that campus security does safety escorts,” Guerrero said. “If you need them, they are available 24/7.”
Despite all of these helpful resources, many students do not utilize these services. . According to the survey by Clery Center, only 17 percent of college students utilize campus security escorts, and only 13 percent participate in campus prevention programs to feel safer. A lack of awareness and understanding could be to blame for students under-utilizing these important services.
Despite Boise State’s efforts to make campus safer, some areas of campus still have poor lighting. Some parking lots used by students, such as the South Commuter lots, are far from highly populated parts of campus, and students have to walk through poorly lit areas to get there.
During special events, such as football or basketball games, parking lots and garages near these events may be closed to students with parking passes. These students are usually directed to alternative parking locations like the South Commuter lots.
Since these events are usually in the evenings, students with late classes are often unable to park in their regular lots. This may require them to walk through unfamiliar areas with poor lighting to get to class.
Students should check their emails regularly for parking and traffic advisories to stay up-to-date on potential disruptions to their routines. It’s important to plan ahead, know your alternative options and know how to best keep yourself safe in areas that feel less secure.
“It really comes down to being aware,” Tyson Gregg, chief instructor at Boise Studio of Self-Defense said. “That seems silly, but it’s true. If you know your schedule, you know that you’re going to walk a certain path all the time. Is there going to be light there? Do you know if it’s a crowded area? Are you paying attention, looking up and not looking at your phone?”
If you know you’ll be walking around campus after dark, staying connected is key. Walking with others is one of the best ways to protect yourself. If you don’t have anyone to walk with, make sure others know where you are — and that you have a way to contact them.
“Always make sure your phone’s charged in case you do have to use it,” Gregg said. “Don’t go somewhere when your phone’s dying.”
Trusting your instincts and always being alert can go a long way in avoiding risky situations.
“Anytime your gut says ‘that’s not right’, trust it — because it’s 100 percent right,” Gregg said. “Don’t go that way.”
Students should feel safe walking on campus. While some areas of campus need improvement, the services provided by Campus Security can turn potentially unsafe situations into secure ones — as long as students actually take advantage of them.
Spreading awareness of these security features can help create an environment where students aren’t afraid to walk to their cars or homes after a late class or work shift. With the help of Campus Security, students can contribute to a safer campus by looking out for themselves and each other.
