Staying safe on campus
After an increase in crime in the hill section, students may be wondering what they can do to stay safe. Self defense professor Bridget Morrissey has been teaching students at The University how to protect themselves since the late 1990s. A resident of the Scranton hill section herself, Morrissey says the section has a nice bulls-eye on it.
“A lot of people who live in the area know for a fact that it is a seasonal place where people live,” she said. “Kids come for the semester and then leave on break.”
Morrissey said it is very easy to see when students are on a break.
Morrissey owns her own Karate studio and tells her students to always be aware of their surroundings.
“Make sure you’re on lockdown and that your windows are locked before you go to bed,” she said.
Morrissey said thieves usually look for an easy way to steal from somebody, so unlocked houses are definitely a target.
“Lock your doors at night or when you leave your facility,” she said.
People may not realize that leaving mail or newspapers piled up while on vacation could signal predators. Morrissey said simply asking a neighbor to take your mail or newspaper while you are away could be beneficial.
“These little teeny, tiny things, these nuances are exactly what predators are looking for,” she said.
Another thing to consider before leaving for break is how you pack your car. Morrissey said she often sees cars with expensive items like TV’s hanging out the back while people pack for breaks. It is important to lock your car doors after each trip you make to your car. Morrissey always tells her students, “Be more observant and think outside of yourself.”
Morrissey said talking on the phone to someone while you are walking home or to class can be a good thing.
“If something were to happen, they heard it and they know you may be walking up Mulberry or heading home. They at least have a direction of where you are,” she said.
She also cautions students to not get too involved in phone conversations. Students still need to be looking around them while talking.
“You need to step it up and be extra vigilant by looking around,” Morrissey said.
It is not uncommon to see students walking to and from classes or back home at night with their iPods on. Morrissey strongly disagrees with this.
“It’s a mortal sin and I always stress that through my self defense courses,” she said.
Morrissey also encourages students to contact campus or city police officers in the case of an incident.
“We need to report every incident, no matter how nominal it is so that we can get some feet on the street and get some police presence in our community,” she said.
Morrissey says the students are the ones who need to take action.
So, students, to keep yourselves safe remember to:
• Lock your door and windows.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Don’t walk or jog with your iPod playing.
• Keep car doors locked, even while packing it.
• Have a neighbor collect your mail during breaks.
“I think everybody makes their own level of safety,” Morrissey said.
By Nicolena Basso
Staff Writer
“A lot of people who live in the area know for a fact that it is a seasonal place where people live,” she said. “Kids come for the semester and then leave on break.”
Morrissey said it is very easy to see when students are on a break.
Morrissey owns her own Karate studio and tells her students to always be aware of their surroundings.
“Make sure you’re on lockdown and that your windows are locked before you go to bed,” she said.
Morrissey said thieves usually look for an easy way to steal from somebody, so unlocked houses are definitely a target.
“Lock your doors at night or when you leave your facility,” she said.
People may not realize that leaving mail or newspapers piled up while on vacation could signal predators. Morrissey said simply asking a neighbor to take your mail or newspaper while you are away could be beneficial.
“These little teeny, tiny things, these nuances are exactly what predators are looking for,” she said.
Another thing to consider before leaving for break is how you pack your car. Morrissey said she often sees cars with expensive items like TV’s hanging out the back while people pack for breaks. It is important to lock your car doors after each trip you make to your car. Morrissey always tells her students, “Be more observant and think outside of yourself.”
Morrissey said talking on the phone to someone while you are walking home or to class can be a good thing.
“If something were to happen, they heard it and they know you may be walking up Mulberry or heading home. They at least have a direction of where you are,” she said.
She also cautions students to not get too involved in phone conversations. Students still need to be looking around them while talking.
“You need to step it up and be extra vigilant by looking around,” Morrissey said.
It is not uncommon to see students walking to and from classes or back home at night with their iPods on. Morrissey strongly disagrees with this.
“It’s a mortal sin and I always stress that through my self defense courses,” she said.
Morrissey also encourages students to contact campus or city police officers in the case of an incident.
“We need to report every incident, no matter how nominal it is so that we can get some feet on the street and get some police presence in our community,” she said.
Morrissey says the students are the ones who need to take action.
So, students, to keep yourselves safe remember to:
• Lock your door and windows.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Don’t walk or jog with your iPod playing.
• Keep car doors locked, even while packing it.
• Have a neighbor collect your mail during breaks.
“I think everybody makes their own level of safety,” Morrissey said.
By Nicolena Basso
Staff Writer
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