Dear Women and Men of the LSU community:
Like us, you probably feel overwhelmed by the recent wave of public information and media coverage regarding the importance of personal safety. You may comfort yourself with the fact that, statistically, the chance that you will become a victim is small. As friends of Carrie Yoder, we want to remind you that while this chance is small, the price of letting down your guard is a horrible one.
There is generally safety in numbers, so weekends and school breaks, when many people leave town, can be particularly dangerous times. During these times there are fewer watchful eyes in the community and group activities decrease, so opportunities for criminal acts rise. With the approach of Spring Break and the Easter holiday, we urge every one of you — women and men alike — to take the following suggestions to heart.
Remain alert and vigilant. Extend your range of awareness beyond your immediate surroundings. You could be followed or observed from a distance.
Be proactive about your safety. As you go about your daily activities, think about what you would do if you were threatened or attacked at that moment.
Form a network of friends and neighbors who agree to be “on call” and watchful for each other. Don’t be shy to ask for a ride, an escort, or someone to talk to. Check in with a friend every day.
Men: Women may feel that you’ll find their fears silly or irrational. Demonstrate your respect for their fears and support of their concerns by going out of your way to be observant and conscientious to ensure their safety.
Forget “bad guy” stereotypes. Dangerous criminals can be intelligent, charming and good-looking.
Don’t open your door to ANYONE whom you don’t know well. If you’re not expecting an acquaintance to visit you, don’t let them in. If a uniformed police officer or service person knocks, ask for their name and badge number and call the police station/service company to verify that the visitor is legitimate. A legitimate visitor will be happy to wait a few minutes! None of the known serial killer cases have involved forced entry, suggesting that for some reason the victims felt compelled to open their doors. We repeat, DON’T OPEN YOUR DOOR unless you’re absolutely certain that it’s safe to do so.
Install a peephole and chain set in your door TODAY, if you do not have one already.
Listen to your gut feelings. If a person or situation does not seem quite right, get out of there.
In closing, we ask you to please take action now — commit yourself to sustained vigilance and do not take risks with your safety. Surrounding each beautiful and cherished life that has been extinguished, countless sorrowful ones now remain. We do not want you, your family or your friends to face the experience of being or knowing a victim.