|
After 33 years in law enforcement, the last six with the USC Police Department, Lt. D. Henry Garbade is an expert on staying safe—and with three daughters (one a USC graduate), he’s especially attuned to campus safety for women.
Garbade’s sense of humor and disarming manner have made him a popular speaker at dozens of University 101 classes. He also talks regularly to female faculty and staff groups who want to know how to protect themselves.
“I give them a plan of action,” said Garbade, USC’s Crime Prevention Community Relations officer. “I tell them, ‘If this happens, then here’s what to do.’
“Women have awesome powers of self-defense if they know how to use them. Women can avoid most problems if they keep their heads up and notice what’s going on. The key to the whole thing is to be aware.”
Campus safety is important, of course, to all students, staff, and faculty. But because women tend to be victimized more often than men, females need to be especially aware.
Officials emphasize that violent crimes on campus are rare; their number decreased last year. Petty theft is the most common type of campus crime, and it has increased slightly during the past two years. As the new academic year begins, Garbade offers these safety tips for faculty and staff, particularly females:
- Find a spot other than your desk drawer or the bottom drawer of your unlocked file cabinet for your handbag. Campus thieves know female faculty and staff usually store their purses in these locations.
- Don’t drop your laptop into a carrying case and then drape it over your shoulder when entering or exiting a building, or when you’re walking on campus. A laptop computer—in good condition or not—can be sold for at least $100, no questions asked. “That’s just free money [for thieves],” Garbade said.
- Most violent crime takes place in the area bounded by Barnwell, Blossom, Gervais, and Harden streets. This includes the Five Points area.
- Familiarize yourself with the more than 100 call boxes across campus. If you have an emergency or feel unsafe, find a call box and press the emergency button. A blue light on the box will begin flashing immediately. “It generally takes us less than two minutes to reach the area where the call box is activated,” Garbade said.
- If you carry pepper spray, make sure it shoots out in a stream, not a mist, that should reach at least 10–15 feet. Garbade suggests a spray containing an ingredient called Capsicum—the same used in bear repellent. Call the USC Campus Police for a lesson in how to use the spray effectively and safely.
- If you work on campus late at night or on weekends or holidays by yourself, use extra care. Garbade suggests programming your office phone so that simply punching one number connects you to 911. He also suggests calling the Campus Police at 7-4215 to request an escort to your car. Campus Police operate two full shifts that change every 12 hours.
- Don’t activate your car’s electronic door locks from a distance. Instead, walk to the car with your keys in hand, then activate the remote entry when you are standing next to the car. Enter the car, then lock your doors immediately.
- Don’t leave your University keys dangling in your door lock.
- Report any “suspicious activity”—that is, anything out of the ordinary—in your building or around campus. Don’t be embarrassed if it turns out to be nothing. “It’s what we do—respond to concerns,” Garbade said. “We’d rather have you safe than sorry.”
- Join the “Building Watch” program on campus and volunteer to report any suspicious activity in your building to Campus Police.
- Sign up for self-defense courses such as RAD—Rape Aggression Defense— taught by Campus Police specialists. Go to www.les.sc.edu for more information.
- Finally, pay attention to your feelings and intuition.
9/04
|
