Playing it safe in Pittsburgh

In high school, it was simple. There was always a parent or a teacher hovering over you… In high school, it was simple. There was always a parent or a teacher hovering over you telling you what to do and what not to do. With college comes the added responsibility of watching out for yourself.

But don’t fret. Pitt Police chief Tim Delaney said it’s easy to sum up how to stay safe.

“Please use common sense,” said Delaney. “Some [students] have it and some of them don’t.”

Pitt police officer Ron Bennett expanded upon the idea. He said the majority of crimes on campus occur because people are careless.

Bennett said many times people will leave their laptops unattended or leave their dorm rooms wide open because they think they’re on a closed campus. Thieves, he said, often take advantage of these situations.

Crimes on campus aren’t always opportunistic like this, though.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that drug use is a factor in at least 41 percent of all violent crimes involving college students.

Violent crimes and thefts aren’t the only situations campus police deal with, though.

“We know there are situations where [underage drinking] occurs,” said Bennett.

“Some people can actually control their portion, and some can’t.”

Web sites like RUPissed.com and mystudentbody.com allow students to estimate their blood alcohol content levels based on the number and types of drinks they’ve had.

The legal BAC limit for those 21 and older to be driving is .08.

“In Pennsylvania, an underage drinking citation is issued to anyone under the age of 21 who is caught consuming, transporting, purchasing or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverage,” according to a document released by Clarion University.

“Anyone under the age of 21 driving with a BAC level of .02 or higher can be charged with a DUI and processed like an adult.”

If students are planning on drinking, there are several steps they can take to minimize the chances they’ll be harmed. Mystudentbody.com emphasizes the importance of knowing personal limits before drinking. It also advises staying around close friends while drinking.

“Research shows that more than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of sexual assault or date rape each year,” according to the Web site.

“Over 50 percent of all sexual assault cases involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, victim or both. To prevent sexual violence, avoid being alone with another person if you’ve been drinking, be aware of your surroundings and avoid empty hallways or isolated parts of bars and houses where someone could easily pull you into a bedroom or closet.”

But these rules don’t just apply when you’re under the influence. The Arlington Virginia Police Department told reporters at nbc4.com that people should stay in well-lit areas, and they should avoid traveling alone.

Pitt offers students one round trip per night and a maximum of 20 trips per semester on SafeRider, a University-owned shuttle system.

During the fall and spring semesters, the shuttle runs from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Students may call 412-648-2255 to request a shuttle ride. To use the service, students will need their Panther Cards.

Students may bring one guest with them on SafeRider, but they must tell the operator how many passengers are accompanying them when they call to request a shuttle.

Pitt also offers a number of self-defense classes. The University offers personal defense, a class that “offers physical conditioning and self-defense through the application of Judo,” according to its course description.

Bennett said the University also offers a course called “Buy yourself a minute,” which teaches students how to gain extra time while they’re trying to fend off attackers. However, the course couldn’t be found in the course catalog.

Additionally, the Pitt police offer a self-defense awareness and familiarization exchange program and a rape aggression defense course at no charge to students.

Interested students may call the Pitt police. Bennett said they will generally run a course if they have a minimum of six people interested in it.

No amount of training will prepare people if they’re not on their guard. Bennett said students must trust their instincts.

“If something doesn’t seem right,” he said, “it probably isn’t.”