Safety remains important issue

Fall is one of the greatest times to be outside. The weather is pleasant, leaves change and the campus and Bloomington are generally peaceful. \nBut it's a fragile peace. \nWhen 19-year-old freshman Jill Behrman was abducted May 31, community and family members were shocked and appalled. After that initial reaction faded, the community pulled together to help find her. Billboards and fliers with her photo and information blanketed campus, the community and areas throughout the state. TV ads begged for information and finding her became a national campaign.\n The safety issues this brings forward cannot be ignored. Behrman was abducted while riding her bike in broad daylight, not in a dark alley or late at night. Another female in the area also reported an attempted abduction. With these incidents in the news, personal safety is key to all students, and finding out what happened to Behrman is important so we can learn how to protect ourselves.\n Paranoia isn't the answer. The key to protecting yourself is personal awareness and common sense. If you are going to be out, go with a buddy. If you're stuck away from home without a ride, the campus offers escort services. If you're going to go on a bike ride, roller-blade or walk, try to pick a well-lit, public path where you can be aware of your surroundings. \n Be wary of strangers. If you see someone hanging around, and your instincts tell you trouble is on the way, call the police. Don't worry about looking silly or paranoid; the most important thing is to assure your own safety.\n Self-defense classes are another option that can help students feel more secure. The University offers classes through the HPER, and the IU Police Department is planning to offer another self-defense class in September that is open to females only, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger. But don't let a self-defense class make you overly confident; common sense still applies, as you won't be able to subdue any attacker who comes your way.\n College is a time to explore the world around you and have a good time in the process. But the loss of a fellow student should be enough to teach us caution and make us more aware of the actions we need to take to protect ourselves. Bloomington is a quiet town, far removed from big city problems of violence and crime. But we've already learned that it can happen here. If it can happen once, it can happen again.\n As we start fresh with a new semester, look out for yourself and your friends. Let's do everything we can to avoid another tragedy.