geolocation to publicly share your location. Consider disabling this function and reviewing other social media settings. Make others earn your trust. A college environment can foster a false sense of security. They may feel like fast friends, but give people time to earn your trust before relying on them. Have a Backup Plan. Spend some time thinking about back-up plans for potentially sticky situations. If your phone dies, do you have a few numbers memorized to get help? Do you have emergency cash in case you can’t use a credit card? Do you have the address to your residence hall or college memorized? If you drive, is there a spare key hidden, gas in your car, and a set of jumper cables? Be secure. Lock your door and windows when you’re asleep and when you leave the room. If people constantly prop open the main door to the dorm or apartment, tell security or a trusted authority fi gure. Safety In Social Settings It’s possible to relax and have a good time while still making safety a priority. Consider these tips for staying safe and looking out for your friends in social settings. Make a plan. If you’re going to a Party, go with people you trust. Agree to watch out for each other and plan to leave together. If your plans change, make sure to touch base with the other people in your group. Don’t leave someone stranded in an unfamiliar or unsafe situation. Protect your drink. Don’t leave your drink unattended, and watch out for your friends’ drinks if you can. If you go to the bathroom or step outside, take the drink with you or toss it out. Drink from unopened containers or drinks you watched being made and poured. It’s not always possible to know if something has been added to someone’s drink. In drug-facilitated sexual assault, a perpetrator could use a substance that has no color, taste, or odor. Know your limits. Keep track of how many drinks you’ve had, and be aware of your friends’ behavior. If one of you feels extremely tired or more drunk than you should, you may have been drugged. Leave the Party or situation and find help immediately. Public Safety can be reached at its emergency line by calling (610) 6834001. (Local authorities can be reached by calling 911 in most areas of the U.S.). Be explicit with doctors so they can give you the correct tests (you will need a urine test and possibly others). It’s okay to lie. If you want to exit a situation immediately and are concerned about frightening or upsetting someone, it’s okay to lie. You are never obligated to remain in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, pressured, or threatened. You can also lie to help a friend leave a situation that you think 51 may be dangerous. Some excuses you could use are needing to take care of another friend or family member, an urgent phone call, not feeling well, and having to be somewhere else by a certain time. Be a good friend. Trust your instincts. If you notice something that doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Learn more about how to keep your friends safe in social settings. Don’t be isolated. Don’t allow yourself to be isolated with someone you don’t trust or someone you don’t know. Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe or uncomfortable, it probably isn’t the best place to be. Be true to yourself. Don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want to do. “I don’t want to” is always a good enough reason. Do what feels right to you and what you are comfortable with. Bystander Intervention Tips Bystanders can play a critical role in the prevention of sexual and relationship violence. They are “individuals who observe violence or witness the conditions that perpetuate violence. They are not directly involved but have the choice to intervene, speak up, or do something about it.” Bystander intervention means safe and positive options that may be carried out by an individual or individuals to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Bystander intervention includes recognizing situations of potential harm, understanding institutional structures and cultural conditions that facilitate violence, overcoming barriers to intervening, identifying safe and effective intervention options, and acting to intervene. Kutztown University promotes a culture of community accountability, supporting an environment where individuals take action to prevent and/or respond to situations that can lead to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. It is an institutional belief that bystanders can contribute to preventing such heinous crimes by doing the following: • If you see someone who looks to be in danger, call (610) 683-4001 if you are on campus or 911 if you are off campus. • Be active in supporting a safe and respectful community. If you see others engaging in disrespectful or inappropriate actions, speak up and get involved, or contact someone to assist. If you hear someone talking about plans to take sexual advantage of another person, speak up. Listen for rape jokes and sexist language. You don’t have to laugh or participate. • If you see someone who looks like they could be
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