Safety of College Students: Lauren Burk's Story

Lauren Burk, an 18-year-old student who attended Auburn University in Alabama, was found on March 4 with a gunshot wound. She was transported to the East Alabama Medical Center where she later died. Her car, which had been set on fire, was also found on the highway.

After all the shootings in or around educational institutions, students should be prepared and well-educated when it comes to campus safety. When it gets dark, they should be aware of their environment and be alert of their surroundings. Students should alert friends or family where they are and at what time they are expecting to return home.

For female college students, going out in large groups is key. Safety increases in numbers. However, it is important to remember that there is little need for precautionary measures if going out is limited mostly to the daytime. When the opportunity presents itself, students should definitely take up martial arts classes. These techniques are valuable if risky situations come up.

College students should definitely check out resources made available to them through their university. They should use police "umbrella" systems in the middle of the night when they have an imperative need to be out in the middle of the night. Students should keep thmselves up-to-date with criminal activity around their campus's area, to make sure that they know when they should be on guard.

Campus safety is relative also to the university's efforts in keeping their students safe. Students should take an active part in determining ways to keep themselves and their fellow classmates safe. Universities should work with their students in making sure that they know what resources are available to them.