Campus Safety Tips from a True Crime Junkie

MUNSAFE social 1200x630
MUNSAFE social 1200x630
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There has been an insurgence of true crime media throughout the last year or so. Not only do we have classic crime-solving television shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, CSI, but now we’re seeing Netflix content like Making a Murderer, Mind Hunter and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile that dive deeper into the minds of serial killers and criminals. These programs constantly remind us that you really never know someone, and you can never really be too safe.

One of my favourite series that not only sets my teeth on edge but reinforces the idea of being safe and aware of my surroundings is the podcast Crime Junkies. This podcast has kept me up at night with their chilling tales of true crime, but their content has definitely ensured that I follow the tips I pick up from their episodes to stay safe and stay alive. These tips that I learned, that I am going to share with you, are ways to remain safe on campus and the information you should have readily available in the case that something were to happen to you.

Be alert and be proactive

If you find yourself in a situation you’re uncomfortable with or you cross paths with someone that makes you feel uneasy, don’t feel the need to be polite. Avoid the situation, move into a well-lit area or an area with a higher volume of traffic, even call campus enforcement or 911. Don’t be afraid of causing a scene or being over-dramatic, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. It’s the job of law enforcement to ensure people’s safety, so trust your gut and call if necessary.

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Download the MUN SAFE app

This app has several features that I love. On the homepage of the application, you’ll be able to choose which campus you’re located in and then under emergency contacts, it will list the services readily available in case you need them (campus enforcement or 911). There is a work alone feature that allows you to set an emergency contact; the application checks in on you intermittently throughout your shift, if you don’t respond within 5 minutes of your check-in, a message will be sent to your emergency contact. They will then have the option to call you, or call emergency services. The second feature I love is the friend walk– with this, you can send your location to one of your contacts (parent, friend, roommate, etc.). They can then open the link and follow your location throughout your walk. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation you hit the distress button and a notification will be sent to your contact. This application gives me peace of mind when I’m walking through campus alone after a night class.

Have an “if I go missing” file

This is one of the tips I picked up from Crime Junkie. What you do is compile all the information someone would need if you were to disappear and give one or two people access to it. In the event that something was to happen to you, your loved ones and the police would have access to your information without having to wait for clearance from your service providers. The essentials to have in your “if I go missing” file would be your bank account information (card numbers and passwords to see when your last transactions were), logins to your social media accounts (to see who it was you were last speaking with), your cellphone information (service providers, username, password, phone number to track cell phone tower pings), and your daily/weekly schedules (class times, work shifts, volunteer hours etc.). Having this information readily available could save so much time and allow police to locate you a lot faster.

I know this all seems very drastic and you’re probably thinking “well I don’t have to do this, this will never happen to me” but it does happen, and it just might happen to you. In 2017, there were 78,035 persons reported to police as missing (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), and 88% were found within the first week of their disappearing. If something were to happen to you, be smart, be safe, be a part of that 88%, make sure the people looking for you have every resource accessible to them.

Sources:

  •     Flowers, Ashley, and Brit Prawat. “Episodes.” Crime Junkie Podcast, https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/blog/.
  •     Government of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “Missing Persons.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 15 Feb. 2017, http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/missing-persons.
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