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Study Tips

Safety Tips

Three Things to Do If You Become Aware of a Sexual Assault

Study Tips
 

Ten Tips to Better Grades:

1. Sit as close to the instructor as you can. There are fewer visual distractions which makes it easier to concentrate; you are less likely to daydream, read a paper, or write letters if the professor can see you.

2. Instead of daydreaming or doodling, review your class notes.

3. Copy down everything written on the board. If an instructor is willing to take the time to put a point on the board; more than likely you will see it again.

4. Try to find a fixed place for studying only. Choose an area that is reasonably quiet and relatively free of distractions. Do not study on a couch or near a bed. If at all possible, study at a desk. Also, do not take phone calls or messages during your allotted study time.

5. Before you begin an assignment, write down on a sheet of paper the time when you expect to be finished. This will make your study behavior more efficient and put a slight amount of pressure on you.

6. If your mind wanders, stand up and face away from your books. The physical act of standing up helps bring your thinking back to your work.

7. Never underline an entire sentence. Pick out a few works that summarize the author's main point.

8. When you take an examination, do the easy questions first.

9. On an essay test, write down something for every item. You may pick up a few points for an imaginative response.

10. On objective tests if you change your mind, change your answer. Contrary to popular belief, on the average you are more likely to pick up more points than you will lose by changing answers.

For additional information in study tips and other academic support services, contact the Learning Center located in 202 Pratt Hall.

Safety Tips
  

Fire Safety

• Practice good housekeeping. Do not let flammable material accumulate and do not block exits from your apartment, house, or room.

• Know the locations of all fire alarms pull stations and fire safety equipment.

• Know the location of all exits throughout the building. Plan how you could escape from each room in the event of a fire.

• Ask your landlord to provide a smoke detector for each living unit or purchase one yourself. Do not remove or loosen batteries in the detector, and remember to replace batteries every six months.

• Careless smoking is a major cause of fire. Use proper ashtrays. Be careful not to drop hot ashes on upholstered furniture. Never leave a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe unattended; never put ashes in trashcans until they are dead cold.

• Do not use octopus-type plugs, which could overload circuits and cause shorts, which could create a fire.

• Do not leave candles, incense, potpourri, or other items with a flame unattended.

• If you observe any condition which you believe is potentially dangerous or hazardous, report it immediately to your landlord or to local authorities.

Personal Safety

     
We are proud of the safety record maintained by the IUP community; however, we must not overlook the need for ongoing safety precautions. Take precautions and safeguard yourself against crime by implementing the following tips in your daily activities.

• Be aware of the locations of the emergency blue light phones on campus; use them for help and to report emergencies.

• Report suspicious persons, activity, and crime to police as soon as possible.

• Notify appropriate authorities if you must work late at night in labs or academic buildings; try to work with a partner or someone you know.

• Never attach your name and address to key rings.

• Do not write your PIN number for MAC card in your purse or wallet; commit it to memory.

Home/Apartment Safety   

• Always lock your door and use deadbolts when you have them. Make sure your door is locked when sleeping; do not leave it unlocked for roommates--they should take their key.

• Always lock the windows located on the ground floor and those above porch roofs before going to sleep or leaving your residence.

• Don't open your door until you know who is knocking--use your peephole. Ask for ID of all repairpersons and salespersons.

• If you live alone, invent a roommate's name to place on your mailbox.

• Don't prop doors open, and always remove props that you find being used.

• If you return to your residence and you think it has been illegally entered, do not enter. Call police immediately. Don't leave messages for others on your door, advertising that you're not home.

• Keep shades and curtains drawn after dark.

• Leave a light on at night.

• Always leave the entrance light on after dark.

• Be suspicious of people trying doorknobs or pushing on room doors; report to police.

• Have your house key ready when returning home.

Protection of Valuables   

• Take money, jewelry, portable items with you over long semester breaks (Christmas and Spring).

• Never let friends or family members send you money through the mail.

• Use Operation ID engravers from IUP Police to engrave valuables.

• Don't leave belongings (laundry, books, keys) unattended in the library, study lounges, the HUB.

• Buy a good quality bike lock, not a cable or chain, and use it to secure bike to a fixed object--bike rack.

• Register your bike with the police department.

• Don't leave clothing unattended in washers or dryers.

• When using athletic facilities, always lock personal items in a locker.

Walking Safety   

• Don't walk alone. Use the IUP Police Escort Services by calling x72141.

• When walking, do so briskly and confidently, head up and looking around.

• Always be aware of your surroundings.

• In deserted areas, walk in the middle of the street.

• Carry a whistle.

• Don't stand too close to someone when giving directions.

• If harassed or followed on foot, turn, run, and scream. Don't yell "Help."  Yell "Fire," which brings assistance more quickly.

• Carry change for a telephone call in case of an emergency.

• Don't resist a purse thief.

• NEVER hitchhike!

• Be alert to possible attack; plan an escape route.

• Stay in well-lighted and well-traveled areas at night. Stay away from bushes, dark entryways, or other potential hiding places.

• Contact IUP Police about areas that need better lighting and shrubbery that could conceal an attacker.

• Don't overburden yourself with packages, books, and bookbags. Keep hands free.

• Have card key in hand before you approach your building.

• Whenever possible, travel in groups of two or more at night.

• Always carry identification with you.

• If there are no sidewalks, always walk against traffic.

• Wear light-colored or reflective clothing when walking at night.

Vehicle Safety   

• Have your car key in hand before you get to your vehicle.

• Lock your car at all times.

• Always look under your car before you get in.

• If you are followed while driving, go to a service station, or better yet, to a police station.

• Never stop to help a disabled car. Instead, drive to a service station or to the nearest phone to report the incident.

• Keep your car in gear at traffic lights and intersections.

• Park in well-lit areas. Look around before leaving or returning to your vehicle.

• If you break down on the highway, tie a white cloth to the roadside car door. Roll up your windows, lock all doors, and stay in the car until official help arrives. If someone else stops to help you, do not get out, and do not roll down your window more than a crack. Instead, ask the person to telephone for help.

• Keep packages and valuables out of sight in vehicles; secure in trunk.

• Report the license number of a suspicious vehicle to the police.

Bicycle Safety   

• Keep to the right of the roadway and ride in single file.

• Obey ALL traffic lights; it is the law.

• Use hand signals.

• Use caution when traveling through congested intersections, parking areas, driveways, and high traffic areas.

• Use caution when traveling through congested intersections, parking areas, driveways, and high traffic areas.

• Drive cautiously around pedestrians; do not try to predict their movements.

• Use reflectors and lights on bikes whenever possible. Also, wear light-colored or reflective clothing.

• Give pedestrians and motor vehicles the right-of-way.

• Vehicle doors can open unexpectedly, so pass parked vehicles with caution.

• Watch out for potholes, rocks, broken glass, and gravel.

Dating Safety

• Be cautious about accepting a blind date, and plan the date with a group of persons.

• Plan to meet your dates in public places.

• Avoid traveling in vehicles with persons you do not know well.

• Don't let unfamiliar persons walk you home.

• Let someone know when you are leaving, where you are going, and what time you expect to be home, and CALL if your plans are changed.

• Be responsible if you choose to use alcohol. An intoxicated person is an easy target.

Telephone Safety   

• Don't give your name over the phone to anyone you don't know; never divulge that you are alone or that you live alone.

• Don't give your credit card number over the phone.

• Don't use your name on telephone answering machines; use your phone number only. Females might have a male record the message for them.

• List yourself in the telephone book with initials only instead of first name.

• If you receive harassing or obscene phone calls, hang up. If they continue, keep a log of all calls and report them to police.

• Don't give your birthdate or social security number to anyone.

THREE THINGS TO DO IF YOU BECOME AWARE OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT:

1. Encourage the survivor to contact University Police at 724-357-2141. This office will assist the survivor in reporting the assault and refer him/her to the appropriate office for follow-up through the legal and/or university judicial system. In cases requiring urgent measures, survivors should contact the local emergency operating center at 911. Make sure the survivor is in a safe and secure environment. Encourage the survivor to preserve all physical evidence. The survivor may or may not choose to press charges in the future, but preserving physical evidence will give him/her the option to do so later.

2. Encourage the survivor to seek medical attention. The survivor should be referred to the nearest hospital if the alleged assault occurred within the last seventy-two hours. Each hospital has the facilities and expertise to conduct medical-legal examinations even if the survivor prefers not to prosecute. An Indiana Campus student should be referred to the Pechan Health Center at 724-357-2550, if the alleged assault occurred more than seventy-two hours previously. This step is important so that s/he receives proper assessment and treatment of any physical injuries sustained in the assault. Furthermore, it is important to determine the risk of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy and take preventive measures. This step is necessary to gather evidence in the event the survivor chooses to prosecute.

3. Encourage the survivor to seek emotional support services. The IUP Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (C-CAPS), on the Indiana campus, is available to students from all campuses at
   724-357-2621, the Alice Paul House, in Indiana, at 724-349-4444, and HAVIN (the Survivor Abuse Center) in Kittanning, at 724-548-8888, are available to provide supportive counseling services to the survivor. Ask the survivor if there is someone s/he would like to contact or would like for you to contact. A close friend or someone s/he trusts can provide support during this traumatic time.

Please refer to IUP's Safety & Security Brochure for additional information regarding IUP's Sexual Assault Policy and Procedures.