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As temperatures rise, NIU offers safety tips

March 19, 2012

With warm, summer-like weather returning to Northern Illinois University, more and more students are heading outdoors for recreation.  While the warm weather brings new opportunities for fun and excitement, there is also the potential to be a victim of crime against their person or property.

Whether considering Clery Act data posted on the NIU website or the StateUniversity.com safety score, Northern Illinois University compares favorably among similarly-sized, four-year public institutions. However, no community or college campus is completely immune to crime.

NIU staff and faculty are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy campus and learning environment that challenges and inspires students to be academically and personally successful. In January, a student safety summit produced recommendations that included development of a safety web page containing frequently asked questions.  This campus safety web page, contains valuable information regarding personal and property safety at NIU including services available to students, safety tips, contact information and PDF resources containing pertinent information on the topic. This site will be constantly updated with new, important information as it becomes available.

Every student is expected to adhere to the standards and expectations that form the NIU community, and each has a role in crime prevention. The following are just a few tips to reduce the likelihood of crimes of opportunity:

  • Do not leave windows open for ventilation. Many intruders enter through unsecured windows, even windows on upper floors. If you need to open windows for ventilation, use locks that will secure windows in a slightly open position.
  • Make sure the door to your apartment or Residence Hall room is locked when you leave. If you have roommates, make sure they shut and lock the doors and windows when they leave.
  • Lock your car doors. Many burglaries take place when students leave their car doors unlocked while leaving their automobiles unattended.
  • Never leave valuables in plain sight inside your vehicle. Be sure to lock them in the trunk.
  • When securing your bicycle, be sure to secure the frame and at least one wheel to a permanent, fixed object (securing both wheels is preferable). Use a high quality U-lock. Park your bike in a highly visible area. Register your bike with the NIU Department of Public Safety by filling out the bicycle registration form and submitting it to the campus police and public safety office.
  • Always travel on well-lit, well-populated streets. Travel in groups and remain alert to your surroundings. Never wear headphones while walking or jogging.
  • Do not leave your property unattended in unsecured Residence Hall rooms, on a table at a food court or in the library. Secure your property by taking it with you, keeping it out of sight in vehicles and securing laptops with cabling or tracking software.
  • If on campus use NIU’s Huskie Student Patrol for a “walk safe” escort if needed at 815-753-9658.
  • Use the campus late night ride service between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day for no-questions-asked transportation for students in the greater DeKalb-Sycamore area.
  • Contact police via cell phone (815-753-1212 for non-emergencies or 911 in the event of an emergency), or use one of the many emergency phones across campus if you feel that you may be in danger.