Safety Tips

• Download the free Safe@stcloud app for additional safety features.
• Use the campus safety escort service or walk with a friend, especially at night. Avoid jogging or bicycling alone.
• Always take the most well-lit route, not necessarily the quickest, and walk in well-traveled areas. Vary your routes and schedule to increase safety.
• Be aware of your surroundings (e.g., campus grounds, off-campus residence, public areas). Watch for potential hazards like overgrown shrubbery, burned-out lights, and places where someone could be hiding.
• Walk with confidence and stay alert. If you suspect you're being followed, trust your instincts. Run in a different direction, move to the other side of the street, yell for help, or head to a lighted area or a group of people.
• Always carry your mobile phone with you and keep it accessible in case you need help.
• Do not wear stereo headphones, as they can distract you and prevent you from hearing potential threats.
• If something feels or looks wrong, trust your instincts and leave the area immediately. Call for assistance if needed. Report suspicious persons or activities to Public Safety (320-308-3333) or the St. Cloud Police Department (911).

• Don’t take drinks from strangers or leave your beverage unattended.
• Have a plan to get home safely. Know ahead of time if you’ll use a ridesharing service, a taxi or have a designated driver. Stick to that plan.
• When dropping off friends who are intoxicated always make sure they get home safely by seeing them enter the building before leaving.
• Set a limit and stick to it. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverages to a party or, if you choose to drink alcohol, consider alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to control the amount you drink and aid in hydration.
• Know the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning: vomiting, shallow breathing, pale skin color, passing out, etc. If you see a friend exhibiting these signs call 911 and get help. St. Cloud State has a Good Samaritan policy that offers you protection if you get help for a friend, even if you’ve been drinking yourself, so you don’t have to worry about getting in trouble.

Learn more about alcohol and substance use.

Burglaries and thefts are the most common crimes students face across all US Campuses.

• Keep your personal items secure. Do NOT leave your possessions alone in public places.  
• When leaving your room, even if just for a moment, fully secure and lock it.  
• Do not let people follow you into your residence hall without swiping for access. Offer to call Public Safety for assistance.  
• Download the Personal Property Inventory Sheet to record property information and store in a secure place in case your property is lost or stolen.  
• Park your bike in secure and well-lit areas. Always lock your bike to a bicycle rack. Several high-quality anti-theft locks are available. Case-hardened heavy (U-Bolt) locks and chains afford the best protection for security of these items.

• Always close your windows, lock your vehicle’s doors and never leave your keys anywhere in your vehicle
• Activate your car alarm if your vehicle is equipped with one
• Park in a well-lit area whenever possible
• Avoid leaving personal property or cash where it is visible inside your vehicle

• Be aware of Phone Scams. You will never be called and asked to provide financial information over the phone. If you get a call from a bank or credit union, tell them you will call them back. Do not call back on the number they provide. Look up the number via the company’s official website and use that number to call back.
• Government Officials never call/email/text asking for you to pay money.
• Do not buy gift cards for someone else.
• Do not share your Star ID password and keep other important passwords to yourself to protect private data and financial information. SCSU will never ask for your student ID or password over email.
• Important documents such as social security card, passport should be kept in a secure place. 

• When meeting someone for the first several times, make sure you are in a populated public place. Make sure at least one other person knows where you are and who you are with. Have your cell phone fully charged and with you.  
• Do NOT meet them at your home, their home or any other private location. If they pressure you, cancel the date. Be in control of your own transport.
• Be aware of what information you are sharing, never share financial information or send money.
• Stay on the dating platform you are using. For example, Tinder says, “Keep conversations on Tinder platform while you are getting to know someone. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email or phone right away.”
• Be wary of someone who will not talk on the phone, video call or meet in a public place. They may not be who they say they are