As the semester winds down, your student will start preparing for final exams, papers, and end of the semester assignments. While finishing strong, they may find themselves spending late nights at Mullins Library or studying with friends in the Arkansas Union. With Daylight Savings Time and the sky getting darker earlier, it is always important to remind your student of key tips to keep them safe, both on and off campus.
- Remind your student to lock their residence hall/apartment when arriving and departing.
- Remind your student to never walk alone. If they cannot find someone to walk with them, your student can call Razorback Patrol at (479) 575-2222 for an escort. This service operates Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 pm until 12:00 am.
- If your student is off-campus and needs a ride home, Safe Ride operates Wednesday through Saturday nights from 11:00 pm until 3:00 am. Call (479) 575-SAFE (7233)
- If your student has to walk alone, encourage them to walk on well-lit walkways and plan their route ahead of time. Remind them to avoid spaces between parked cars, overgrown shrubs, or dark passageways, and to walk facing traffic.
- If your student feels like someone is following them, encourage them to look confident and acknowledge their presence, cross the street and/or change directions, and walk toward other people or occupied buildings.
- If someone in a car follows your student and is persistent or becomes obscene, encourage them to write down the license number and report it to the University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) as soon as possible.
- If your student is locked out of their vehicle, UAPD provides free unlocking services by calling (479) 575-2222.
- Encourage your student to carry their car keys when approaching their vehicle so they can enter quickly.
- Remind your student to never prop open inside or outside doors or allow others to follow them into their residence hall without using their own Student ID.
- Wearing headphones when walking or jogging can make your student less alert of their surroundings; encourage them to avoid this, especially if walking/jogging at night.
- When in a public place, remind your student to keep valuable possessions out of sight. If they must leave an area for any length of time, instruct them to take their personal items.
The men and women of the University of Arkansas Police Department are committed to protecting the future of Arkansas by promoting a safe and secure environment through excellence, initiative, and integrity. If your student feels unsafe, encourage them to use one of the emergency poles throughout campus or to contact UAPD by calling (479) 575-2222. For more information about campus safety tips or the University of Arkansas Police Department, visit http://uapd.uark.edu/.