By. Parker Tillson
The Razorback Reporter The UA police have urged students to lock their doors after a reported rape in Holcombe Hall early in September. There are however, several more precautions students should take. Making sure to lock doors is the first step students can take to prevent crimes, police say. If students are reluctant to walk home alone, they’ve had one drink too many, or have locked their keys inside their car, the UofA offers Safe Ride. The late-night transportation service is free and available to all students from 10:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Monday-Tuesday nights, and from 10:30 p.m. until 3 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday nights, according to the UA website. “Safe Ride is a free student service, it’s there to take care of you, to get you home, out of an uncomfortable or inconvenient situation,” said Safe Ride chairman Andrew Hudspeth. Beyond Safe Ride hours, UA police said they will do a walking escort if a student needs one, Capt. Gary Crain said. But there are more resources than a sober ride service or a police escort. Associated Student Government has encouraged students to download RAVE Guardian, an app that can track friends, set alarms that notify them if they don’t respond, provide confidential tips, and immediately contact the police. Downloading a safety app is one of several steps residents can take to be safer on the streets, according to the Office of Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. RESPECT is a multi-award-winning peer education program focusing on rape education at the UofA. Through campaigns such as “That’s so 6%”, and “My Cup is Not My Consent”, class presentations and outreach events, RESPECT seek to raise awareness about rape culture on college campuses. RESPECT has interacted with many programs at the UofA, including Theta Chi. The two collaborated during last year’s ‘It’s On Us’ Week of Action, hosting events each day to remind students it is their responsibility to prevent sexual assault. “We want our members and students around campus to know that there are organizations and resources like RESPECT that can help bring awareness to such a serious issue and provide help to those affected,” said Kyle Freeman, Theta Chi vice president of Health and Safety at Theta Chi. SARAH, a collaborative program between STAR Central and Legal Aid of Arkansas, is a campus resource that provides free and confidential counseling for anyone experiencing sexual violence. Walk-in visits are available from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays all year, and it is located at the Wellness Center at the Garland Garage. “Just be smart,” said Safe Ride Chairman Andrew Hudspeth. “Make good decisions... the worst thing that could happen is somebody making a decision that affects horribly the lives of people who live on campus and others.”
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AuthorSenior journalism student at the University of Arkansas with the aim to be a sports reporter. Archives
December 2019
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