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These days you can learn just about anything while in College. Browse through any university course catalogue and you'll run across things as diverse as organic chemistry, Renaissance painting, sitcom writing, and algorithmic functions. Many students will also learn first-hand about crime -- but not by sitting in a criminology lecture.

While campuses are often perceived as a center for learning and personal growth, the ugly truth is they can be an easy target for criminals looking for unsuspecting students upon which to prey. But with a dose of common sense and a few simple precautions, you can easily ensure your security, even while making the hectic transition to  

campus life

 .

Simple awareness, experts say, is your first tool in maintaining personal safety while on campus or anywhere else. "You should never be paranoid. Instead, [practice] what I call 'cat thinking,'" advises Captain Bob Chaffee of the Colorado State University Police Department, Fort Collins, CO. "Cats are never tense. Their ears are open all the time. They are always paying attention. They're not panicky or stressed. They just always pay attention. It's just being certain of what's around you."

Awareness may not be the easiest attribute to nurture, especially in the excitement of the first few months on campus. Between new faces, new courses, and a new city, as well as all the excitement inherent in College life and the youthful tendency for students to view themselves as invulnerable, security measures often fall through the cracks.

All it Takes is a Minute
Moving into the Dorm was hectic for Kelly, like it was for everybody else. Between unpacking her stereo, computer, CD collection, and clothes, she didn't have a minute to either get to know her floormates or get any of the books she'd need for the first day of classes. So, when a couple of her neighbors invited her to go with them to the bookstore, she figured she'd kill two birds with one stone. There was just one problem: Her roommate, Barb, had just left for the dining hall downstairs, leaving her keys behind on the bed. Instead of waiting for her, Kelly pulled the door closed and didn't latch it; She thought it would be OK because Barb would be back soon and so would she since the bookstore was only a couple blocks away.

That short time Barb and Kelly were away was all it took. Someone managed to slip into their room and make off with a pile of CDs, Barb's keys, Kelly's purse, and a few other trinkets left around the room. It was a hard lesson to learn, especially on the first day at school, but it's one easily avoided.

"A lot of times students come to college with the idea that for four or five years, life gives them a forgiveness program," says Myra Kodnor of Security on Campus Inc., a non-profit organization that concentrates on raising the levels of security on colleges around the country.

Many students agree that security isn't as big of an issue in their minds as it should be. "For the most part that's understandable," said Rachael Friend, a student at Westfield State College (Westfield, MA). "Campus police and public safety are hardly ever taken seriously. They give us the same drill mommy and daddy gave us before we go off to school."

What You Can Do
Just because security measures aren't on the forefront of everybody's mind, however, doesn't mean you should cut corners on your personal safety. In fact, it should encourage you to take extra initiative to safeguard your belongings from thieves. Campus security should even be a factor in choosing which college to attend, says Kodnor. While visiting campuses, keep a watchful eye open for lighting and emergency telephones, as well as for landscaping that could provide places for prowlers to lurk.

"What may look inviting at two o'clock in the afternoon, imagine walking through at nine o'clock at night," she says. It's also a good idea to do some crime investigation of your own: Look into a college's crime rates, both on campus and in the area surrounding it. Every college that receives public funding is required by the Crime Free Schools and Communities Act to annually publish its crime statistics, as well as a daily blotter of the previous day's calls. Contact campus police or the school's public safety department for such information. Also, if a school's newspaper is available on-line, browse past issues to get a feel for any problems that have occurred on campus.

As it is anywhere else, it's always a good idea to keep your valuables safe and out of sight while on campus. Pricey electronic equipment, such as iPods, cell phones, and laptop computers, should be kept under wraps. "If you are showing off how cool your stuff is, somebody's going to notice, and your cool stuff is going to be their cool stuff," says Chaffee.

Don't worry; your new college life won't be tantamount to moving in with Ali Baba and the 40 thieves or Bonnie and Clyde. With a few simple precautions, you'll improve your chances of making it through finals, spring breaks, weekend road trips, and everything else you'll do over the next few years safely.

>>For more information on campus and personal security issues, visit the Campus Security, Inc. Web site at http://campussafety.org, or the National Crime Prevention Council Web site at http://www.ncpc.org.

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