Public Safety > Safety Tips

There are several steps you can take to prevent being involved in a crime... 

Assault and Sexual Misconduct

  • What if you are being assaulted?
  • What is "Sexual Misconduct?"
  • What to do if you have been assaulted in the past 72 hours?
  • What to do if someone you know has been sexually assaulted?
  • What is "Rape-Trauma Syndrome?"

Community Awareness and Support Programs

  • AIDS Awareness Week
  • Alcohol 101
  • Alcohol Awareness Week
  • GHB/Rohypnol Awareness Programs
  • Mock-Tails
  • Peer Educators
  • Safe Spring Break
  • Sex and Health Trivia
  • Take Back the Night
  • Women's History Month

Security and Safety Procedures

  • Locks
  • Identify and protect your valuables
  • Bicycle security and regulations
  • Vehicle safety and regulations
  • Fire safety

Assault and Sexual Misconduct

Protect Yourself!
Try to avoid walking alone at night in dimly-lit areas. If you feel uncomfortable about walking on campus after dark, call the Department of Public Safety. A public safety officer is available 24 hours a day to escort you to your destination. This service is limited to on-campus locations. 

When walking alone, stay alert at all times. If you think you are being followed, head quickly (run if necessary) to the closest group of people, campus building, or lit area. Go directly to the nearest telephone and call the Department of Public Safety. 

If you are a victim of assault, remain as calm as possible and observe everything you can about the perpetrator: height, weight, age, hair color and style (including facial hair), color and type of clothing, direction of travel, color and make of vehicle, and license plate information. Immediately seek assistance from the Department of Public Safety. 

Do not attempt to approach suspicious persons yourself. Instead, immediately report them to the Department of Public Safety. 

Steps to Take If You Are Being Assaulted

  • Your first concern should be for your safety and survival.
  • Be aware of your capabilities and limitations. Your judgment and thinking will be your best weapons for survival.
  • Tell the attacker NO firmly and repeatedly. Tell the attacker that they are hurting you; this may shock him or her into stopping.
  • Try making a scene to draw attention to yourself so the assailant will leave or be distracted. This may give you time to get help or escape.
  • If your choose not to physically resist the attack, it does not mean that you have asked to be attacked or raped. It means that you did what you needed to survive.
  • Remember that there is no one right way to respond. The person being attacked is the best judge of which options were best for himself of herself in the situation.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct is a much broader category of behavior than the traditional concept of rape or date rape. It is when one or more persons compel another person to submit to sexual acts or intimate bodily contact without that person's consent. 

Sexual misconduct may include the use or threat of force; the use of intoxicants to substantially impair a person's power to give consent; engaging in sexual acts with a person for whom there is reasonable cause to believe he or she suffers from a mental state which renders him incapable of understanding the nature of the contact; or engaging in sexual acts with a minor. Unsolicited verbal assaults of a sexual nature may also be considered sexual misconduct. 

Sexual misconduct is prohibited and is considered a major offense. Abuse of alcohol or other substances does not relieve individuals of their responsibilities to themselves or others. 

Incidents of sexual misconduct should be reported as soon as possible to the Department of Public Safety, a residence life staff member, or a member of the Office of Student Affairs such as a dean or area coordinator. The Office of Student Affairs can provide referrals for rape counseling and/or medical treatment. Although they will make all efforts to keep matters confidential, College officials (other than representatives of the Counseling Center) are required to report instances of sexual misconduct to the Department of Public Safety for possible investigation and judicial response. If the assailant is a student(s) a judicial complaint will be filed with the Office of Student Affairs. This does not preclude your right to seek criminal prosecution. 

The Department of Public Safety and Office of Student Affairs advise all victims of sexual assault to file a report through the Lake Forest Police Department. Reporting the incident does not obligate the victim to press charges. However, both offices stand ready to assist all members of the community in that regard. All reported incidents become part of the campus crime report statistics. 

Under the College's judicial system, both the accused and the accuser are entitled to have others present during a campus disciplinary proceeding alleging a sexual assault. Both the accused and the accuser must be informed of the College's final decision respecting the alleged act(s) of sexual misconduct and any sanction imposed against the accused. Sanctions under the College's judicial system provide for repercussions up to and including permanent expulsion from Lake Forest. 

Lake Forest College will provide assistance to victims of sexual misconduct in changing academic or living situations after the assault if requested and reasonably available. To request assistance in changing your academic or living situations contact the Office of Student Affairs. 

The College is committed to the prevention of sexual offenses. The Counseling Center and Office of Student Affairs present sexual assault awareness and prevention programs throughout the year. 

If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted In The Last 24-72 Hours

Get to a safe place and seek help immediately.  Sexual assault is extremely difficult to deal with in isolation.  Asking for and receiving help is an important step in surviving sexual assault. Contact a residence life staff member, area coordinator, resident academic fellow, the Office of Student Affairs, or Department of Public Safety; these members of the campus community are trained to help you and can act as advocates for you during the reporting process. 

Obtain medical care as soon as possible. Medical treatment is needed to determine the presence of physical injury, sexually transmittable diseases, or pregnancy and may be used as evidence in criminal prosecution. Immediate post-assault treatment is available through the College Health Center or the Lake Forest Hospital Emergency Room. Do not bathe, douche, or change your clothing prior to seeking emergency medical care or calling the police. This will preserve important physical evidence. 

Effective follow-up is necessary for healing. Rape or assault can cause psychological aftereffects. Counseling is a good idea whether or not you think you need it. Lake Forest College provides many safe, confidential follow-up resources:

  • The Student Health Center (ext. 5050) is located in the Sports Center on the South Campus. Trained health care professionals are available from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday to assist you with any medical concerns.
  • The Counseling Center (ext. 5240) is located in Hotchkiss Hall. Professional counselors are on call 24 hours a day and available to all Lake Forest students, especially those dealing with assault, rape, or sexual misconduct.
  • The Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault (LACASA) has trained advocates on call 24 hours a day to help you with any assault or post-assault issues. Call the LACASA rape crisis hotline at (847) 872-7799.

What To Do If Someone You Know Has Been Sexually Assaulted

  • Believe them.  The greatest fear of the sexual assault survivor is that they will not be believed by friends, family, and college officials.
  • Provide protection and a safe place. Listen and offer comfort. Be supportive and non-judgmental. Make the victim feel that they are in a safe environment.
  • Reinforce that the assault was not their fault. 
  • Let them make their own decisions about how to proceed.
  • Suggest getting immediate medical attention. Explain the importance of seeing a medical doctor as well as a counselor. Suggest calling a rape-crisis center; the number of the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault (LaCasa) 24 hour rape crisis hotline is (847) 872-7799.
  • Recommend reporting the incident to the police as soon as possible.  If the victim chooses this option they have the right to take an advocate with them, including a professional staff member such as an employee of the Office of Student Affairs. A member of the counseling center can be present as well.
  • Learn about rape-trauma syndrome.  The Counseling Center, Office of Student Affairs, and LaCasa are all valuable resources for information concerning rape-trauma syndrome. 
  • Get help for yourself.  Discuss your feelings with someone other than the survivor. Take time to process the assault and realize your own limitations.

Rape-Trauma Syndrome

Rape is a major life crisis. It interrupts normal life and work. Rape trauma syndrome is the medical term for the set of psychological and physical responses a victim goes through after experiencing the trauma of rape. For students this process may be very disruptive to their self-confidence, studies, and/or relationships with friends and family.  This syndrome may also effect roommates, a boyfriend or girlfriend, family, and friends of the victim.  Some of the common symptoms of the syndrome include fear, grief, and despair; nightmares or sleeplessness; appetite loss or overeating; displaced anger; drug or alcohol abuse; inability to express emotions; or denial. Victims may express a whole range of emotions and feelings regarding their experience.  There is no right or wrong way to get through an experience of sexual assault. 

Sexual assault is never the victims fault. Do not attempt to deal with issues of sexual misconduct alone, without advice or support. The Lake Forest College community has many resources to help victims overcome the trauma of sexual assault.

Programs

Lake Forest College presents numerous programs throughout the year regarding alcohol awareness, sexual assault, and other issues pertinent to collegiate audiences. Following is information on some of the ongoing programs at  Lake Forest. 

AIDS Awareness Week 

Alcohol 101 
An interactive computer experience administered by the Counseling Center to students and student organizations to provide information about alcohol and its effects. 

Alcohol Awareness Week 
A week-long series of educational and entertaining events to promote awareness of alcohol issues and provide healthy alternative programs for the campus community. 

GHB/Rohypnol Awareness Programs 

Mock-Tails 

Peer Educators 
A student organization in which students are trained to provide information and support to other students and to develop campus-wide programs regarding the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs as well as information regarding related health issues. 

Safe Spring Break 
Series of programs developed to provide health and safety information prior to Spring Break. 

Sex and Health Trivia 

Take Back the Night 

Women's History Month

*Note: For additional information on any of these events, contact the Office of Student Affairs at X5200. 

Security and Safety Procedures

Lock Your Doors
The single most effective action you can take to protect yourself and your belongings is to lock your room doors when you are away or sleeping. Faculty and staff should keep their offices locked whenever unoccupied. An unlocked room or office is an invitation for trouble. 

The exterior doors of residence halls are locked 24 hours a day for the protection of all occupants. Other campus buildings are locked after posted office hours. Do not prop doors open for any reason, and do not allow unauthorized persons entrance into campus buildings. 

Identify and Protect Your Valuables
Recording the following information will help protect your valuables: serial number, brand name, model number, and a brief description. Forms are available to students, faculty, and staff for this purpose and should be returned to the Department of Public Safety for safekeeping. Students may obtain forms from their residence life staff; forms are available to faculty and staff members at the Department of  Public Safety.

Keep your purse, wallet, or backpack with you at all times. Never leave such items in a lounge, classroom, or study area,even for a moment.

Notify the Department of Public Safety immediately if you observe unusual or suspicious activity. Report faulty or broken doors, locks, lights, and windows to residence life staff or the Department of Public Safety.

Guns and other weapons are not permitted on campus.

Bicycle Regulations and Protection
Bicycle thefts may be prevented if the following precautions are taken: 

  • Always lock your bicycle, even if you leave it for a very short time. It only takes seconds to steal an unlocked bicycle.
  • Use a secure lock or chain to discourage potential thieves from using bolt- or cable-cutters. Heavy chains or  "U"-shaped locks provide the best protection.
  • Record your bicycle's serial number, model, make, description, and any other pertinent information. Should your bicycle be stolen, you must show proof of ownership to recover it.

Note: The City of Lake Forest requires that all bicycles within their jurisdiction be properly licensed. Lake Forest bicycle licenses are $2 and available at the Department of Public Safety. Once licensed, proof of ownership is filed on record. 

Motor Vehicle Regulations and Protection 
You must register your vehicle with the Department of Public Safety and obtain a parking sticker. Parking stickers for the 2003-2004 academic year are $80.00 and available to upperclassmen on a limited basis. Park only in designated legal parking spaces on campus to insure that your vehicle is not ticketed. You must pay parking violations at the Department of Public Safety within one week of being ticketed. After receiving an excessive number of tickets, the Department of Public Safety will revoke your parking sticker and your vehicle will not be allowed on campus.

Protect Your Vehicle 
Park in well-lit areas, and always lock your car doors. Never leave keys in an unattended vehicle. Avoid leaving personal property or valuables in your vehicle. If you find in necessary to do so, lock items in the trunk or conceal them. 

Fire Safety
If you see fire or smell smoke, pull a fire alarm and report such conditions immediately to the Department of Public Safety. When a fire alarm sounds, you must vacate the building immediately. Public Safety officers will direct you back into the building when it is safe to re-enter.

Do not abuse fire safety equipment. Setting off false fire alarms and discharging fire extinguishers are illegal and extremely dangerous. Violators are subject to arrest and the College's judicial procedures. 

Do not overload electrical outlets. Fire crackers, bottle rockets, and any other explosives are not permitted on campus. Motorcycles, motorbikes, scooters, and any other gasoline-powered vehicles are not permitted in campus buildings, other than those designated as garages