Dorm tips
Jill Eckardt
Housing Director
“Always lock doors when you’re not there. Check both the bedroom and entrance door.”
“Carry your student ID and keys.”
“At night, never walk alone. Use the Night Owls escort service.”
“Know serial numbers for your bike and electronics in case they go missing.”
“Don’t carry a lot of cash.”
Safe Sex
Courtney Weaver (via email)
Sexual Heath Coordinator
“Use condoms to prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections.”
“When using condoms, be sure to check the expiration date and inspect the package for any damage. A damaged and/or expired condom is a bad condom.”
“Get tested for STIs and HIV every 6 months or in between partners.”
“Communicate honestly with your partner about sex history, testing status and birth control options.”
“Condoms are not a reusable resource. A new condom should be used for every new sex act.”
Personal safety tips
Angie Gifford
FAU Victim’s Advocate
“Keep your password(s) private.”
“Vary your routine don’t take the walk the same way every time.”
“Tell someone if your are in a violent relationship, because it only gets worse.”
“If you are a victim of a sexual assault, get a rape kit. You can report it after you have more time to think about what you want to do.”
“Call a victim’s advocate to talk about what you think is a crime, and how to report [it].”
Alcohol and Nutrition tips
Scott Lawler (via email)
Health Promotion Coordinator at Today and Beyond Wellness Center
“Limit yourself to one alcoholic drink per hour – alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will help you stick to this rule and will help you avoid dreaded hangovers.”
“Follow the Food Guide Plate- It is the simplest way to get all the nutrients you need!”
“Remember to eat before you drink. Foods that are high in protein are best- they take longer to digest and will slow the absorption rate of alcohol.”
“If you go to a party with friends, make sure to have a designated driver or keep local numbers for taxis stored on your cellphone. FAU students can take advantage of University Cab Cash to ensure they always have cab fare!”
“Know the signs of alcohol poisoning. If you suspect someone you know is in need of help, call 911 immediately!”
Crime Prevention
Charles Lowe (via email)
Chief of Police
“Remove ALL valuables from the inside of your car or completely out of view including check books, electronics, wallets, brief cases or other items. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE action you can take to significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.”
“Keep the inside of your vehicle clean. Even if you just keep a lot of ‘junk’ and non-valuable materials in the vehicle, the criminal doesn’t know that and may try to break in to sift through your vehicle’s contents.”
“Disconnect portable navigation devices and take down the storage cradle or suction cup. An empty cradle, suction cup, MP3 adapter or power plug signals to the thief that you have a navigation unit or other electronic device and it isprobably in the vehicle.”
“LOCK your doors, close your windows tight and close your sunroof. You will be amazed how many vehicles are entered through an unlocked door.”
Internet Safety
Charles Lowe (via email)
Chief of Police
“Avoid giving out personal information such as your home address or telephone number to people you meet on the net; not everyone is what he or she seems.”
“Exercise caution when agreeing to meet anyone in person whom you’ve met on the net. Before you arrange any such meeting, at least try to address the following:
“Can you verify, through a third party whom you know and trust the true identity of this person? Is there a way to verify the information provided by this person?”
“Predators on the net thrive on the anonymity of the medium. You should find ways to positively identify your potential romantic partner before you allow a meeting.”
“Where do they work? Can you call them at work? Where do they live and what is their telephone number?”
Sameer Hinduja (via email)
Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at FAU and Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center
“University students should first and foremost be in control of their online experience. If you are being harassed, threatened, or intimidated work with the social networking site, cell phone service provider, or Internet service provider to set up blocks in place.”
“Use site options/preferences/privacy settings to control who has access to your information and status updates, and who can send you messages or post to your [Facebook] Wall.”
“Be very wise about what you reveal online because you simply cannot trust everyone out there. Also, assume that the information that is out there about you will be used to cause you harm – and take care to pull it down.”
“Don’t just accept every single ‘friend request’ that comes your way. It is not strangers who will victimize you, but those you have let into your life just a little.”
“Civil actions a victim can pursue against an offender include: intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation of character, and possibly invasion of privacy. Criminal law is also violated when cyberbullying involves coercion, might be considered a hate crime, involves a certain level or type of harassment or invasion of privacy, threats to the victim or loved ones, stalking and sexually-explicit pictures if the victim is 17 or younger.”
