Ensuring students’ safety while navigating the campus was the goal of the Safety Walk. The Student Government Association (SGA) and the University police walked with a group of students around campus from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm on September 15th. The Safety Walk not only showed students how to walk around the campus safely, but it also helped University police find areas around campus that need more light or signage through student engagement. 

Attendees participated in a safety workshop before the Safety Walk. During the workshop, Sergeant of University Police Danny Garrigus shared safety tips for students, including:

• Download the LiveSafe App.

LiveSafe allows students to communicate directly with on-campus and off-campus police 24/7. It has safety features like the ability to request a police officer or a friend to monitor your location while you walk back to your room, report suspicious activity around campus, or request an officer to escort you to your destination. 

• Document the serial numbers of your electronics.

Documenting the serial number of your electronic device can help police find the location of your device faster. Garrigus explained that police stations utilize software that allows them to find any device that has been sold second-hand, i.e. a pawnshop, in the whole country. Having your serial number expedites that process. 

“Leadsonline.com, you can document serial numbers– all of your stuff in there– and it gives you a permanent record of it. So if something were to happen, you can actually print that out and give it to an investigator for law enforcement,” said Garrigus.

• Lock your personal items away and lock the door to your dorm.

If you’re afraid of your roommate going through your personal items, Garrigus explains that students should utilize the room lock, as well as the cabinet lock.

“If there’s something that you don’t want your roommates to have access to, the easiest way to stop that is locking your private bedroom, right?… Here at Georgia Southern, your key will open the main front door, but will not open your roommate’s door,” said Garrigus.

• Park in well-lit areas.

Parking in well-lit areas can scare away criminals when they don’t want to get caught. Especially since there are multiple cameras all around campus. Locking your car doors and hiding important belongings from sight in your car can also decrease the risk of theft. Garrigus explains that most criminals won’t break the window, but steal from cars that are already open. 

I asked Garrigus if there was anything he wanted to tell every student on campus. 

“The biggest thing that I can say is: Pay attention to your surroundings. Know what’s going on around you. Pay attention to things. And always understand, contact us if you need us. Public safety is there 24/7.” said Garrigus.