While looking through my Facebook this week, there was the typical cat memes, complaints about homework, and sorority retreat photos, but one thing that stood out was the reoccurring face of Hannah Graham. Hannah, 18, is a University Virginia student who was last heard from through a text to friends saying she was on her way to meet them around 1 AM on Saturday, but never showed up. The last seen footage of her is her leaving her apartment on a surveillance camera around 9 p.m. on Friday. Police said she was visibly intoxicated after a night at a sorority event. Her friend said she declined a cab ride and would walk home alone. She has been missing ever since.
While police are launching a full investigation and a search party around the small college town of Charlottesville, VA, no leads have been found. Hundreds of students go missing every year across the nation, for various circumstances, but it doesn’t really hit home till you become a college student yourself. We all have had those nights where we probably drank a little too much hooch, and stumbled barefoot back to our dorms/apartments, with only the fear of getting busted by an RA is on our minds. We feel invincible on our campus. We feel safe. It isn’t until a wake up call like a disappearance or a serial sexual assailant (University of Florida) is on the loose, that we start looking over our shoulder just a little bit more.
“If a guy tried to rape me, I would just let him do it so I don’t get hurt” (Heard on Campus)
“But stuff like that wouldn’t happen on this campus” (When asked how would they defend themselves from an attacker)
“Everyday I think of what I could have done…what I should have done…I just froze”
I know that there are always people out to get someone, and in a perfect world, every girl on campus wouldn’t have pepper spray attached to her keychain. We must be more aware of our surroundings and really think about what we would do if put in a dangerous situation. Even on the “safest” campus in the country, a solid plan, is better than no plan at all. This is YOUR campus and you have rights.So here are some suggestions:
Have a friend THAT YOU TRUST to stay with you the whole night if you are going out and know you are probably going to be drinking. Do not take your Big’s boyfriend’s roommate from sophomore year. Take someone who you actually know. Make sure this person is not someone who is going to get frustrated with you and ditch you, or laugh and take embarrassing photos for your mom to see on Facebook the next morning. If you want to leave and go back home, they should promise before hand to go with you.
We all love to party hop. Some parties get shut down and you are not ready to go home yet, we get that. But be sure to let someone know your whereabouts when you are on the move, even if it’s a Snapchat with a frat paddle on the wall. It’s time stamped and an obvious photo you are still alive…and coherent enough to know your phone passcode.
This goes for drinking, flirting, and just being plain obnoxious. When your friend says its time to slow down…its time to slow down. You don’t see how your acting, but other people do. If you are flirting with a guy but don’t have the intention of going home with him, then don’t lead him on. Know when to stop and set boundaries. If you feel like your talking too much and bringing everyone down, then you probably are. It’s not your night, that’s ok, try again another time. Unwanted attention can make people do dumb things.
I love Burnettes just as much as the next person and I am probably a little jealous that you are drunk and I am working, but you need to understand that YOUR safety is MY number one priority. I don’t get excited when people come in puking everywhere because it’s a funny story to tell, I get concerned as to how you came to be that way. I am very proud that you came back to the dorm because you made the right decision. I’m not judging you, I’m protecting you.
Look into some self-defense courses at your local gym or campus activity organization. Read up on what an attacker looks for to prevent yourself from being vulnerable. Watch some YouTube tutorials on simple tactics that could end up saving your life.
Most importantly, call your parents on Sunday just to check in and let them know you made it through the weekend. Spread the word amongst your friends and take control of your campus!
University of Kentucky Sophomore
I am not actually that funny. I’m just mean and people think I’m joking.
Part-Time Blogger Extraordinaire & Full-Time Queen Bee
No Ragrets. Not Even One Letter.
View all articles by Kayla Polychrones
