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General Safety Tips

The Department of Public Safety/Police strives to provide the safest possible environment for the mission of our University to be carried out in; however a general responsibility for personal safety applies to every member of our community.  Being aware of your surroundings, reporting suspicious activity to the University Police and taking simple steps to protect yourself go a long way towards removing the opportunity for a crime to occur.

See the links on this page for specific information regarding safety in the following areas, "Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Tips”, "Online Safety” (including information about Identity Theft), and "Driving Safety" as well as the general safety information below to help avoid placing yourself in environments or situations where criminals will have the opportunity to commit a personal crime against you:

  • Stay alert at all times while on campus and call the University Police (908-737-4800) immediately to report suspicious activity.
  • Always keep your doors and windows locked.
  • Do not prop open campus building doors.
  • If possible, let a friend or family member know where and with whom you will be and when you will be back when you go out.
  • Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about someone near you on the campus, in an elevator or getting off public transportation, head for a populated place or yell for help.
  • Use well-lit and busy sidewalks.
  • Avoid walking alone or walking near vacant lots, alleys, construction sites, and wooded areas.
  • Carry a cell phone, whistle or a personal alarm to alert people that you need help.
  • Learn the locations of emergency phones on campus and program the number for the University Police (908-737-4800) into your cellphone contact list.
  • Stand near the controls in an elevator. If you feel threatened, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as you can.
  • Try to park in an area that will be well lit and heavily traveled when you return.
  • Lock your car doors and roll up the windows completely, even if you are only running a quick errand.  Do not leave anything valuable inside your vehicle, or if unable to remove all valuables do not leave them in plain sight.
  • Drink alcohol responsibly. Remember your ability to respond is diminished by over-consumption of alcohol.
  • Never leave your personal property unattended (e.g., book bags, laptop computers, iPads, etc.).
  • Put ICE (In Case of Emergency) in your cell phone, along with a name and telephone number of a loved one, to enable emergency services personnel to contact your family in the event of an emergency.
  • Unplug yourself and tune in to your immediate environment when in public. Excessive volume or use of electronic devices (iPods, cell phones, etc.) distracts you from being alert to potential safety issues.
  • Utilize crosswalks and sidewalks at all times and obey the signals at intersections when walking. If you are crossing at any location other than a crosswalk, you MUST yield to vehicular traffic.
  • When driving, be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists and yield to them when required by law.