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Trust your instincts.

If you feel unsafe, go with your gut. Don’t worry about what others think; safety comes first.

Use your cell phone.

Make sure it’s charged before you leave home and coordinate with a friend if you need to text him or her for a “friend-assist.” Also, make a plan in case your phone dies, so you can meet up with your friends at a familiar location at a certain time.

Wait for people to earn your trust.

Don’t assume people you don’t know well will look out for your best interests.

Don’t be afraid to hurt someone’s feelings.

If you find yourself in an unsafe situation, it’s okay to lie. It’s better to make up a reason to leave than to stay in a possibly dangerous situation.

If you see something, say something!

Intervene if you see a situation that seems risky to someone’s safety. By stepping up, you can possibly prevent a crime. Also, don’t be afraid to call ������� Safety and Security. Reporting something to the Office of Safety and Security does not mean you have to file a police report.

Stick with your friends.

Arrive at events together, check in with one another throughout, and leave together. Think twice about going off alone and if, for whatever reason, you have to separate from your friends, let them know where you are going and who you are with.

Be responsible and know your limits.

If you’ve decided to drink, don’t accept drinks from people who you don’t know or trust. Don’t leave a drink unattended. If you have left your drink alone, get a new one. Always watch your drink being prepared. At parties, stick to drinks you got or prepared yourself instead of common open containers like punch bowls.

Watch out for your friends.

If a friend seems out of it or is too intoxicated, get him or her to a safe place.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Whether you’re walking home from the library or at a party, be mindful of potential risks. Get to know the campus and neighborhood and learn well-lit walking or driving routes. Think of a safe exit strategy.

Signs that you may have been given a date rape drug:

• If you feel a lot more intoxicated than your usual response to the amount of alcohol you consumed.
• If you wake up abnormally hung-over with memory lapses and cannot account for periods of time.
• If you remember taking a drink, but cannot recall what happened for a period of time after that.
• If you feel as though someone had sex with you, but you cannot remember parts of or the entire incident.

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