Safety Planning

• Know your safe places. Learn where you can go to receive help and receive resources to help you. The Office of Equal Rights & Title IX is located in Demoss Hall 1232, we are open 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. If it is an emergency, please contact LUPD or call 911.
• Have a support system. You do not have to be alone. Create a network of people you know and trust to help you find safety from the situation. It is important to have a community in times of crisis to help you find recovery.
• Have an excuse. Always have an excuse ready to be able to leave situations that may become dangerous.

• Have your phone ready. Make sure your phone is charged and you have people you trust as emergency contacts. If at any point you do not have access to your phone have people’s numbers memorized.
• Change your routine. Be aware of your daily patterns and change them sporadically. Take different routes, make different stops, and come and go places at different times.
• Document the incidents. Keeping a log of the incidents that have occurred can be especially helpful if you choose to the report to the Office of Equal Rights & Title IX or law enforcement. Stalking and Incident Behavior Log (PDF)

• Have an Escape Bag. Have a bag packed with your basic necessities and anything important to you. Any keys, credit cards, forms of I.D., have them ready. Hide the bag well so that it can not be found.
• Have a Plan. Know where you are going to stay, and how you are going to get there. make sure you have plenty of gas or know the bus routes to get to your destination.
• Have a Backup. If your first plan is no longer an option have a second route and destination in mind that you can quickly reroute to.
• Make your support network aware. Make sure you keep your support system aware of what is going on and when they can expect you to arrive.

LUPD Safe Ride Program

Liberty University Police Department (LUPD) offers a service where you can get a safe ride. LUPD Safe Ride is not a taxi service and should be used only if your safety is a concern.

Request a SafeRide:

1. Call LUPD (434) 592-7641
2. Give your name, LU ID# (if applicable), and location

On Demand Ride (ODR)

Liberty University transit offers students, faculty, and staff a safe ride on and off campus Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Schedule an On Demand Ride:

1. Open the My LU app
2. Click “My Access” from the left-hand menu
3. Open the “All Navigation” dropdown
4. Scroll down to find “On Demand Rides”

Lynchburg City Police Department (911)

Emergency: 911
Non-Emergency: (434) 847-1602
Information Desk: (434) 455-6041

Campbell County Sheriff

Non-Emergency: (434) 332-9580

Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP)

Free crisis intervention, support, advocacy, and information to survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
https://www.ywcacva.org/what-we-are-doing/sarp/
(434) 947-7422

Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN)

https://www.rainn.org
1-800-656-4673

National Domestic Violence Hotline

https://www.thehotline.org/
1-800-799-7233

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Lifeline Number: 988

Be aware of the blue emergency contact boxes on campus to contact LUPD if you experience an emergency.

Liberty now offers Flames Self Defense, a basic self-defense course to educate, enhance, and empower women to reduce their risk of victimization. Students receive access to hands-on training courses, a comprehensive reference manual, and other resources.

Sign up for the online Flames Self – Defense Course.

• Use common sense: If something doesn’t look or feel right, it probably isn’t.
• Always be aware of your surroundings: Continually look and listen to what’s going on around you.
• Show that you’re confident: Walk with a sense of purpose, keep your head up, and make eye contact.
• React to potential problems before they can develop: Don’t wait for an uncertain or uncomfortable situation to go wrong; leave, call the police, or take other protective actions.
• Educate yourself: Take time to review personal safety information from an accurate and trustworthy source. The LUPD Crime Prevention Unit offers self-defense classes for students, faculty, and staff.

Download Liberty’s safety app to be in the know on emergency alerts and also have a list of emergency contacts at the touch of your finger tips.

You can also review Liberty’s Emergency Guide (PDF) to know more about the University’s standards and expectations for campus and individual safety.