Share this article on...
Contact Us
- Report errors or inaccuracies topmba@qsnetwork.com
- Contribute articles contribute@qsnetwork.com
- Advertise advertise@qsnetwork.com
Security and safety at university
In light of recent events, Top Universities offers you strategies to help make your time at university as safe as it can be.
Your time at university, whether at home or studying abroad, should be one of the safest and most enjoyable of your life. The events of April 2007 at Virginia Tech in the US have focused the minds of many students, prospective students and their parents on the potential dangers of life at university and there are many people feeling worried. Many universities around the world have new guidance in place on their websites. This article looks at and assesses some of the potential dangers and suggests steps you can take to make your time at university as safe as possible.
First and foremost it is important to remember that events like those at Virginia Tech are extremely rare. They do not indicate that life at university is necessarily more dangerous than life anywhere else. The same series of events could have taken place elsewhere, not at a university, and would be just as unusual and rare. The tragedy took place on a university campus, but it did not take place because it was a university campus. A lone, crazed, gunman could theoretically target people in any public place at any time.
Fortunately, this, too, very rarely occurs anywhere in the world. The fact that guns are relatively common in some countries, like America, and that gun ownership hardly exists at all in others, such as most parts of Europe, for example, may now influence some people when short-listing study destinations. It is important to keep a sense of perspective. Even in countries where gun ownership is uncommon, they are theoretically available and someone, who is determined to get one, is going to find a way. It would appear regrettable, while understandable, if that was to be a major factor in your choice of university destination above quality of university or what you wish to study and do at university.
Pressures of university life
The pressures of university life are considerable. You are confronted with a new environment and group of people from whom you will try to make friends and they come from many different places and cultures. This is the first time many people live independently without the infrastructure of family around them. Potentially one of the greatest excitements and rewards of university life, for most people, the friends they make there remain some of their best friends throughout life. The social pressure to be confident when you know nobody, feelings of social and academic insecurity, financial worries, distance from home, feeling an outsider, feeling jealous or resentful; these are all things everybody can experience. For some people, the pressure can be too great. These feelings can get out of control in the unfamiliar university environment and it can be easy to feel isolated.
Look after yourself
Rule number one of being safe at university is to look after yourself. Just because you are away from home, doesn’t mean you should neglect yourself. Most universities have places where you eat inexpensively and take care of your domestic chores. Freedom offers many temptations of late night socialising with new friends or of keeping long hours. Students are young and strong and can take much of this in their stride, but keep in mind you are investing in yourself at university and, nowadays this also costs you a great deal of money. Enjoy yourself for certain, and live life to the full, but treat yourself well and see yourself as the precious object you are investing in.
If social, academic, financial, relationship, psychological or any other problems are worrying you, seek help at an early stage. Universities know all too well what difficulties can arise and they all have advisory or counselling services available. Most problems are much easily resolved if addressed early. If you are at a university with a personal tutor assigned to you, use him or her as a sounding block or a first port of call. Seek his or her reassurance: that is what personal tutors are there for, and nine out of ten times, they will do all in their power to find you the support you need. If you would rather not reveal to university authorities or your parents that you have worries, seek out your medical doctor/GP. Unless they sense some imminent danger to you or others, doctors will always respect confidentiality and they should help get you on a constructive path, find the right support and, hopefully, back to normal again.
Study Abroad