Safety Tips
Protecting Yourself
Knowledge is the best weapon you can possess to avoid becoming
a victim of a crime. Criminals are opportunists who take advantage
of any occasion to enrich themselves. If no opportunity is
offered, the criminal will seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Please learn how to avoid becoming a victim. Here are some
tips for protecting yourself and your property.
In The Residence Halls
• Keep your door locked at all times.
• Do not leave valuables openly lying around in your
room.
• Mark all your valuables so that they may be identified
if they are stolen and recovered.
• Keep locked access doors and windows closed. Propping
open a locked door or window invites unwanted visitors.
• Know the emergency evacuation routes.
• Know the emergency telephone numbers. Numbers are
posted at various campus sites.
Do not give your phone number out indiscriminately. This
invites unwanted phone calls. Report any obscene calls to
a Campus Police Officer or the Student Services Office.
Around Campus
• Do not leave personal property in public areas. Purses,
textbooks and other items not being monitored by the owner
are an invitation to a thief.
• Keep a good grip on your purse. Avoid purse snatchers
by taking away the opportunity.
• Carry only what you need with you. Do not carry large
amounts of cash, large numbers of credit cards or valuables.
• Keep your distance from anyone who triggers a suspicion
in your mind. Avoid invitations for a "ride" from
someone you do not know.
• Walk with friends at night; do not walk alone.
• Stay alert to your surroundings when walking at night.
Walk briskly to your destination.
• Immediately report any suspicious activity to the
Public Safety Department or to the Due West Police Department.
If You Are Approached
• If you suspect an attack, stay calm. Panic can be
more of an enemy than the suspicion of an attack. Appearing
confident is your best weapon. Keep your distance if possible.
If you think there will be an attack, run to lights, people
and open areas, not into a dark corner.
• If attacked you must decide if it is better to be
passive or to resist. If you resist, scream loudly and continue
to scream until help arrives or the attacker runs. Struggle,
hit, scratch, kick or throw things. Do not allow the attacker
to take you to a less public place where you will have less
chance of attracting attention.
• If you are held up by a person with a weapon, it is
a situation different from a personal attack. Do not resist;
hand over your valuables.
• Report any assault or attempted assault immediately
to the nearest Campus Police Officer, college official or
the Due West Police Department. Remember the individual's
appearance, size, build, clothing, etc.
Protecting Your Car
• Drive your car with the doors locked.
• Do not give a ride to anyone you do not know.
• Park in assigned areas on campus. These areas are
heavily patrolled day and night.
• Roll your windows all the way up and lock your doors
when you leave your car.
• Do not leave any item of value where it can be seen
through the car windows.
• When parking on campus, check your car every day.
Immediately report any vandalism or theft. theft.
Sex Offender Registry and Access to Related Information
Incarceration may remove a sex offender from the streets
but it does nothing to prevent the offender from committing
another crime when released. The federal Campus Sex Crimes
Prevention Act requires institutions of higher education to
issue a statement advising the campus community where law
enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning
registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires
sex offenders already required to register in the State to
provide notice, as required under State law, to each institution
of higher education in that State at which the person is employed,
carries on a vocation, or is a student. In South Carolina
convicted sex offenders must register with the County Sheriff’s
Office where they reside.
In addition, all persons convicted of violations under the
laws of the United States or any other state substantially
similar to an offense for which registration is required shall
provide to the local agency all necessary information for
inclusion in the State Offender Registry within ten days of
establishing a residence within South Carolina. Any person
required to register shall also be required to re-register
within ten days following any change of residence.
Nonresident offenders entering the State for employment,
to carry on a vocation, or as a student attending school who
are required to register in their state of residence or who
would be required to register under this section if a resident
of South Carolina shall, within ten days of accepting employment
or enrolling in school in South Carolina, be required to register
and reregister pursuant to this section. For purposes of this
section "student" means a person who is enrolled
on a full-time or part-time basis, in any public or private
educational institution, including any secondary school, trade
or professional institution, or institution of higher education.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) maintains a website,
http://www.sled.state.sc.us/, which allows a search of the
Sex Offender Registry for Offenders by Name, City, County,
or Zip Code. Other web addresses are http:www.scattorneygeneral.org/index.asp or http://members.tripod.com/~acso_leva/index-main.html
Registry information provided under law shall be used for
the purposes of the administration of criminal justice, for
the screening of current or prospective employees or volunteers
or otherwise for the protection of the public in general and
children in particular. Use of the information for purposes
not authorized by law is prohibited and a willful violation
with the intent to harass or intimidate another can result
in prosecution.