S is for Safety

Laura writes down information about each ride she has given for the night Sept. 21, 2007. Students can feel safe at night on campus by using SafeRides instead of walking by themselves at night.

Saferides knows my name.

Yes, it’s incredibly embarrassing when I call for a ride home from 512 E. Green St. at 10 p.m. every day and the person on the other end knows my name. Sadly, I don’t have to show my University i-card to anyone; the drivers recognize my face.

However, there isn’t much I can do. I essentially commute everyday to work; I either walk two blocks to take a 30-minute bus ride, or I walk 17 minutes in pitch black.

And though my 5-foot-6-inch frame could take on many people, I’m not going to chance it against the attackers who have plagued our campus.

Many students, like myself, recognize the dangers of walking alone at night but forget that danger lurks beyond the streets. It also exists at home.

When I was a freshman, I left for class one day and forgot to lock the room. When I came home three hours later, my roomie, Amy, sat me down and explained how much of an idiot I was because we could have had our printer, TV and most important her Laffy Taffy candy stolen. For those who haven’t had a fiery Southern Illinois girl shriek at you before, I can easily say that I learned to lock the room when I left after that.

But it’s not just about locking doors. How many apartment tenants keep their window open next to the door handle? How many people let others into the residence halls without thinking about whether they live there? How many people actually check to make sure that nobody is following them home?

There are safety precautions out there, and we need to use them.

As for me, as long as I can have that beautiful white bus chauffeur me home at night, you know I’ll be riding it.

Jen Wheeler is a junior in Media.