At Rider, we recognize that safety is everyone’s responsibility – one shared by all members of our University community in concert with the Department of Public Safety. Toward that end, we offer the following safety tips and bystander intervention strategies to help reduce risk and better ensure your safety.
General Safety Tips – Risk Reduction
There are simple steps we can all take to help keep ourselves and others safe:
- Program Public Safety’s numbers into your cell phone so as to retrieve them quickly.
- Non-emergency: 609-896-5029
- Emergency: 609-896-7777
- Pay attention to any RiderAlert messages you receive on your cell phone or via email. RiderAlert is used exclusively in an emergency, to relay important information, weather related and other closings, and to provide timely warnings as a means of preventing crimes or other serious incidents.
- If you see something or someone suspicious, call Public Safety immediately at (609)-896-7777.
- Check out the various crime prevention services Public Safety offers.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Go places with a group and be sure everyone leaves together.
- Utilize Public Safety’s escort service when you are visiting another building or returning from off campus late at night and when concerned for your safety. Contact the Department at (609)-896-5029 to request this service.
- Limit the use of ear buds or head phones when you are out by yourself.
- Let someone know where you are going.
- Make sure you have money and a charged cell phone wherever you go.
- Never prop open residence hall doors.
- Don’t allow anyone in the residence halls that you don’t know.
- Keep your room doors and windows locked.
- Never leave your drink unattended.
- If you engage in sexual activity, listen carefully and be sure to give and receive affirmative consent. You have the right to say NO to any unwanted sexual contact…NO means NO!
- Remember that an intoxicated/incapacitated person cannot give consent.
Bystander Interventions
No one has to do everything but everyone can do something:
- DIRECT: Directly place yourself into a situation to prevent it from escalating further without compromising your own safety or that of others.
- DELEGATE: Get someone to intervene for you who can better handle the situation. Consider reaching out to Public Safety or Residence Life staff.
- DISTRACT: Diffuse a situation by distracting those involved with the help of friends.