Recently, as all students know, a student has been violently attacked, robbed, and left seriously injured in the campus area. While she is thankfully recovering after receiving hospital care, this incident is a reminder to us all that we should seriously consider our safety. As winter brings longer nights, it will get easier for crimes to happen and even go unpunished.
The university responded swiftly, activating its Critical Incident Team and working with police to increase patrols around campus, paying special attention to Louise Avenue, Lorne Avenue, and 20th Street. While the university’s actions are assuring students in the safety measures, they ignore an important reality: no system, no matter how close to perfection it is, can guarantee absolute safety.
That’s why it's crucial to remember that a big part of safety responsibilities lie with us—the students, staff, those who live, work, and move around campus. Security is a shared effort.
Safety Starts With Awareness
The world we live in is full of distractions. It is totally normal that smartphones, headphones, and social media are lowering our awareness of surroundings and our attention to details. It is an inevitable side-effect of modern technology.
However, we should not forget that these distractions can make us vulnerable. While in areas that we consider safe, like home or campus, especially where there are people around, it is generally safe to lower our guard down, it is extremely crucial to focus on your surroundings whenever you are leaving your safe zone. Criminals often look for targets who appear unaware or distracted. The simple act of staying attentive can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Put your phone away while walking, especially at night. Keep your headphones off or at a low volume, or consider wearing just one earbud so you can still hear what’s happening around you.
Avoiding distractions is important, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. It’s also about thinking ahead to make choices that prioritize your safety.
Steps to Stay Safe
1. Avoid distractions: Walking while staring at your phone or listening to headphones makes it harder to notice potential threats. Especially at night, stay off your phone and keep your attention on your surroundings.
2. Stick to well-lit areas: If possible, avoid dark alleys or isolated streets. Louise Avenue, Lorne Avenue, and 20th Street have been areas of concern lately.
3. Walk in groups: There is strength in numbers. If you can, travel with a friend or group, especially when it’s dark.
4. Trust your instincts: If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Change your path, seek help, or call someone to alert them to your location.
Supporting Each Other
Safety isn’t just an individual responsibility—it’s a collective one. We must look out for one another. If you see someone who looks lost, distressed, or vulnerable, help them. It could be as simple as walking with them or helping them call for a ride. Staying aware of people around creates safer environment for everyone.
Taking small steps to stay safe might not seem like much, but little things like this always add up together. We’re not just protecting ourselves—we’re setting a standard for the kind of community we want to live in and creating an environment where we all feel secure.
The Role of the University and Authorities
Despite us students playing a main role in ensuring our safety, the university of course has a tremendous effect on the safety in and near the campus. At the moment of writing this article BU’s efforts to respond to the incident have been commendable. They requested additional police patrols, and connected to the victim.
However, more can always be done. The measures that BU takes depends on students and how we will react. It is important for us to speak up. Whether it’s through student associations, campus surveys, or direct discussions with professors, our voices matter.
At the time of writing this article, the Brandon Police Service’s investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to come forward. If you were near campus around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday of November 23rd, even the smallest detail could help solve the case.