Tips for Staying Safe on Campus This Fall

More than 200 seniors graduated from in June. That means that 200 students or more could be leaving Wayland soon, if they haven't already, to join thousands of other students on college campuses across the country.

Freshman will be eager to prove they are ready for their first opportunity to live away from home and upperclassmen will be returning to something familiar and comfortable.

In either case, personal safety should still be at the top of the priority list.

The report of an alleged rape on the campus of Harvard University last week was a shocking reminder that terrible crimes are possible anywhere -- even on the campus of one of the most renowned universities in the world.

“It’s so shocking, absolutely crazy,” 15-year-old Noor Farhat, a summer school student from Lebanon, told Boston.com. “My parents let me come here because they think Harvard is a safe place."

Before you send your co-ed off to campus this fall, make sure they take a look at the following tips from StreetSafe.com to help ensure their personal safety.

1. Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.

2. Never leave outside doors propped open, and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.

3. A stranger is still a stranger, even if they are a fellow student. Do not accept a ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don’t know.

4. Do not drink in excess. When you do so, your ability to make decisions becomes impaired, making you an easy target.

5. When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.

6. When walking by yourself, keep expensive belongings such as laptops hidden. You will be less of a target.

7. The beaten path is the better path. Do not take short cuts and familiarize yourself with the area before heading out.