LU Alert: Campus Alert: Recent Events and Situational Awareness
There has been an uptick in sexual assault cases occurring off campus in the Lynchburg community. We have a few tips and suggestions to help keep you safe while you are out in the community:
- If a situation makes you feel uncomfortable, you are not obligated to stay anywhere you don’t want to be. Contact a trusted individual like a friend or family member. If the situation is severe, notify authorities and leave the area.
- Trust vs. Know
–90% of victims know their attacker*. Just because you have class with a person, live in the same area, or have a mutual friend does not mean you should trust them.
-If you see something, say something. Anything that seems suspicious or out of the ordinary should be called in so that it can be properly vetted and investigated.
- You can significantly decrease your chances of sexual assault by not drinking.
- Know your limits! Alcohol is involved in over half of all sexual assault cases. *
–Alcohol and drugs can impair your judgement, can cause inability to give affirmative consent, and affect your ability to fight off an attacker.
–Count your drinks.
–Always watch your beverage
–Don’t accept drinks from anyone or drink from a shared supply (punch bowl)
There are confidential and non-confidential resources available to you both on and off campus. For information on support resources, services, programs, and amnesty at Liberty University please see the Office of Equity and Compliance’s website found here or the Liberty University’s Office of Security and Public Safety found here.
*According to collegestats.org