Just Yell Fire, a nonprofit movement, combats violence against young women. It has grown into a 1.8 million-girl revolution across 66 countries, and is the basis of stay-safe programs at universities, high schools and shelters across the country. And with the back-to-school season upon us, now is the perfect time to review some college safety tips, courtesy of the organization.

1.PARTIES

A great social life is part of the college experience but remember: Never put down your beverage and come back to it. Date rape drugs are prevalent on the college scene, and are impossible to detect without a test kit.

Go to parties as a group, watch out for each other and leave together. Alcohol is involved in the majority of university sexual assaults, and a nice guy can quickly turn into a different and violent person when he is under the influence.

2.ATM’S AND PARKING LOTS

Cash machines and parking lots are frequent stops in college. Unfortunately, the bad guys see ATMs in less-traveled areas as a hunting ground, and the same goes for dark parking lots, the site of a high percentage of campus assaults.

Make a very-public ATM your cash source, and either avoid poorly lighted or deserted parking lots or go with a friend. For predator avoidance, there’s safety in numbers. Try to avoid parking next to vans, or if one has parked next to you, go back and ask a security guard to escort you to your car.

3.HALL CRUISING

A big trend in on-campus violence comes from hall cruising, where trusting residents give innocent-appearing predators access to dorms, sororities or residence halls.

The predators then "cruise" the halls looking for unlocked doors to find their victim. Put a stop to this type of violence by always locking your dorm room door and never giving strangers access to your building.

Campus Shuttle

4.CAMPUS SHUTTLE

Late-night library or social visits are part of college life, but coming home you are often alone. While campuses may seem like islands of safety, they are open to outsiders from every direction. Either walk with friends or take advantage of the campus shuttle when you are crossing campus at night.

5.BE INFORMED

Just Yell Fire produced a film that anyone can watch for free online. It raises awareness of the many dangers girls face at college, and offers some avoidance strategies.

Vist

and get informed

Also included is a Dating Bill of Rights, to remind girls they have rights in relationships—to report violence against them, to have friends outside of a relationship and to help stop dating abuse. Finally, there are some street-fighting, getaway tips from expert martial artists any girl can use to get away from someone twice her size.

For more information visit justyellfire.org