Staying Safe at JWU

On November 25th an 18-year-old girl was walking on Exchange Street when a man in a

mask and a black hoodie came up from behind her, put his hand over her mouth, and told her not to scream. The robber then stole her headphones and purse and escaped on foot. This crime is everyone's worst fear of living in a city and becoming a victim of a crime. So, how do JWU students stay safe in their everyday lives?

After talking to numerous students on campus at JWU, I found ways for students to stay safe in Providence.

“How I stay safe walking through the streets of Providence is I always carry mace and stay aware of my surroundings. I don’t keep anything out in the open, like my wallet and phone, and I avoid going out too late and don’t travel alone. I also share my location with friends and let them know where I’m going in case someone needs to find me.”- Meghan.

“I always have my head on a swivel and don't walk around looking at my phone. I’m always aware of who is around me walking on and off campus. As a woman in the world, I feel it is always important to be aware of your surroundings as women are very often the victims of crimes.” - Jill.

Crimes against women is a severe issue that females of all ages have to deal with, especially college students.“The Justice Department estimates that one in five women will experience rape or attempted rape during their college years and that less than five percent of these rapes will be reported.10.”-now.org Knowing these startling statistics makes it even more critical that students know that they have resources such as Safe Sec. Safe Sec's phone number is (401) 598-1103; they offer night walking services, so if you don’t feel comfortable walking alone at night, they’ll go to your location and walk you to your destination. There are also emergency blue light phones, so around both Downcity and Harborside campuses, you can get ahold of campus security in case of emergency. These safety measures are implemented to keep every student safe because it’s vital that all the student body feels safe at Johnson and Wales.

“When walking around Providence and on campus, I usually carry a little pocket knife for protection, stay alert of my surroundings, and be mindful of the people around me. When I feel I’m in an unsafe situation, I have an app called Noonlight. If I feel in danger, I hold down this button until I safely arrive at my desired destination. If you let go of the button, it’ll send the police to your current location.”- Elijah J.

“I’m familiar with being in a city environment, so I’m comfortable staying safe. I stay safe around Providence by wearing easily visible clothes, so I’m noticed when walking across the street and moving throughout the city. I also shared my location with my friend group and saved the Safe Sec phone number to my favorites in my contacts. Hence, the number is easily accessible.”- Elijah P.

Safety is a serious topic for everyone, and everyone should know how to be safe and exist safely both on and off campus. Thanks to technology, there are many ways to stay safe, whether directly calling 911, sharing your location with your friends and family, or using an app like Noonlight. Whichever way you approach safety precautions, there’s something out there for everyone. Our campus, fortunately, offers a wide variety of ways to stay safe, so no matter what resources you have, you can always find help at Johnson & Wales University.