Prairie View A&M University might be located in a small town, but that doesn’t mean that crimes don’t occur here. One crime in particular that a few young women on campus take for granted is rape. Unfortunately, there is always one who ends up becoming a victim. Protecting yourself from winding up in a bad situation is critical.
Peace officer Nathaniel Wardell, coordinator for crime prevention and crime victims knows this wants to bring it to everyone’s attention, especially the young ladies.
Officer Wardell stated that in many of the cases she’s encountered with rape, the victim was under the influence. ” In all cases I’ve had, alcohol was involved.” Wardell said that there had been a group discussion involving all the freshmen women, their second one this year. Wardell and former PVAMU students, both male and female, spoke about the dangers they might encounter on campus.
Wardell said that she meets with them in University College, “I go to their rooms and speak to the young ladies.” Wardell said that the discussions are great because the young ladies get to ask questions and get some answers. “Don’t walk alone at night. If you need an escort call [the Department of Public Safety]. We’ll come and take you from point A to point B.”
Here are the dos and don’ts straight from the crime prevention tips list:
1. Use the buddy system and watch out for your neighbor (TIPS 936-261-2222)
2.Report all suspicious persons, vehicles, and activities to the Department of Public Safety (936-261-1375)
3.Keep all doors locked
4.Report lights that are out and any hazardous conditions immediately
5.If you see someone being victimized notify the Department of Public Safety
6. Remember the locations of the blue phones
7.Avoid walking alone at night (ext. 1375 for escort)
8.Confine to well-lit, regularly traveled walks or pathways
9.BE AWARE! Recognize your vulnerability
10.Attend the campus crime prevention meetings and become involved in the campus crime prevention program
Wardell said she plans to get a room in the UC and stay there three days each week so that ” I can be involved with the students,” and she also said, ” I have a daughter around their age . . . when I see them I see one of my own.”
Wardell said that the Department of Public Safety has another program in place called Operation ID, where students can take personal items such as laptops or TI-83s and get them engraved. “PV is engraved at the beginning, the ID is in the center, and AM is at the end.” She said that if they were to find it they would know who its owner is, “Say we found it in a pawn shop. We could look at the back and know that it was stolen.”
The Department of Public Safety is working on setting up times with community assistants for students to sign up and get their items engraved.