Reducing campus sexual assault through community watch and self-defense programs

Sexual Assault

Creating a campus neighborhood watch is one approach to reduce the number of sexual assaults in the area. The campus police introduce a special, easy-to-remember number that is designated to receive notification of any suspicious activity. Students can use their cell phone or emergency 'blue light' call phones to call this number. The administration and campus security can stress that it is partially the student's responsibility to create a safer campus, through their vigilant efforts. Then, existing officers can be redeployed in the areas to address perceived concerns, once a student notifies the police.

Plan

Additionally, all students can be required to take a class in self-defense, to increase their sense of empowerment should they suffer an attack. The classes can be physical, and show students how various physical and verbal techniques can reduce their likelihood of being the subject of assaults. These lessons are not simply valuable on the current campus environment, but can be carried with the students throughout their lives.

The self-defense classes should also contain advice on preventative measures, such as taking the campus bus whenever possible, rather than traveling alone by foot in high-risk areas at high-risk times like after dark. Finally, these classes can also include sensitivity training exercises to create a sense of mutual responsibility for the safety of all students. The classes can enable the students to have a forum for discussion about sexual harassment issues, and about behaviors that may make them more vulnerable to attacks, such as drinking too much, which may let down the student's guard while they are walking home.