LITTLE 500 SAFETY

Scattered across tables in common rooms around campus sit paper triangles urging students to register against rape with the IU Student Association rape crisis fund on one side and another important message on the other.\n"The Little 500 Weekend -- protect yourself, protect your friends."\nLittle 500 riders have helmets to help shield them from dangers during the race, students who participate in any of the activities associated with Little 500 week don't have protective gear to keep them safe during the parties and substantial drinking that accompany the week. \nWhile IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger says students are as safe during Little 500 as they are during the rest of the year, he says he sees an increase in risky behavior.\n"It is amazing how these people also bring attention to themselves by committing these offenses out in the public eye," he says.\nDuring the year, noise, underage or excessive drinking, traffic accidents, theft and vandalism occur with regularity. However, this behavior happens more frequently during Little 500. Minger attributes this behavior to the fact that there is a large influx of people from outside the IU community, the festive atmosphere and, of course, alcohol.\nSenior Shaleen Riddle, a Health and Wellness educator for the IU Health Center, says because alcohol plays such a prominent role during the week, there is a greater instance for random hookups and sexual assaults. \n"For most people who have sex or are assaulted, a huge factor is alcohol," she says.\nRiddle says to stay safe while getting busy, students should ask their partner about STDs, condom use or simply decide before alcohol comes into the picture exactly how far to go.\n"Before you drink decide what you want to do," she says. "Tell yourself you're not going to have sex and stick to it. Think about it while you're sober." \nAlong with thinking ahead, Minger says the best way for students and party-goers to protect themselves is to be aware of their surroundings.\n"Using this common sense approach would keep potential victims of crime from going to underage drinking parties, accompanying and drinking with males that may want to take advantage of an unsuspecting date, engaging in illegal or risky behavior or driving while intoxicated," he says. "Sounds like such a simple thing to be safe but I guarantee you there will be a large group of individuals assembled to pick up trash on Sunday morning after the race and supervised by the Monroe County Corrections Officers."\nStudent groups on campus are going out of their way to remind their members to be safe during the week including Panhellenic Association President, and senior, Brittany Cohen.\n"Yes, we definitely addressed the issue of safety during Little 500 with the chapter presidents (during a weekly meeting)," she says.\nMinger says of course safety is important to the IUPD during the week, but so is having fun, as long as it's legal.\n"We enjoy the activities at IU and only hope for them to occur without issue that make the community unsafe or not secure," Minger says, adding, "We do have zero tolerance to crime." \nRiddle says she hopes students enjoy the week, but to remember they still have to face their classmates Monday morning.\n"Just because it's Little 500 doesn't mean go crazy," she says. "Don't do stuff you wouldn't normally do. Be safe. It's just a random weekend. It's not spring break"