Crime Prevention Tips

The USU campus is a relatively safe environment, but you can contribute to a safe campus or reduce the risk of crime by following these guidelines. Add USU Public Safety dispatch (435-797-1939) to your contacts, download the Aggie Safe App, and know how to access the following resources for yourself or a friend.

Be an Upstander

Be an active bystander - or Upstander - to promote a culture of safety and respect on the USU campus. 

• If you see someone behaving in a suspicious manner, immediately contact USU Police by calling 911.
• Create a distraction to prevent or stop harm. Even interrupting a questionable interaction by asking an irrelevant question -- for example, “can you hold this for me?” -- may prevent further harm. Others often feel uncomfortable stepping in, but will do so once someone else takes action.
• Ask directly if someone is OK. Direct questions can help identify if further intervention is needed.
• Delegate by enlisting an authority such as an RA, staff or faculty member, or security guard to help you check on a situation.
• Speak up if someone is being pressured to consume a lot of alcohol or drugs or if you are concerned about how much they are consuming.
• Say something if someone is being treated negatively or targeted by others because of their identity.
• Speak up if someone discusses plans to have sex with a person who is incapacitated due to alcohol or drugs, a mental or physical disability, or is asleep or unconscious.
• Check on someone who seems to be struggling or experiencing mental or emotional distress. Tell them about counseling and support resources.
• If someone discloses an experience of sexual violence to you, help them access resources. 

Secure Your Belongings

• Even if you are going to be away only a few seconds, close and lock your apartment, car, or office doors and windows to keep thieves and strangers out. Open windows and doors are easy access points to your personal and university property. Lock up your bicycle in a bicycle rack. Don't leave your book bag, laptop, or other valuable items unattended in any location on campus. The vast majority of items stolen on this campus are left unattended and unsecured.
• Use a permanent marker or an engraver and write your name on your belongings. Write down the serial numbers and model numbers of valuable items such as bicycles, laptops, phones, MP3 players, video game units, etc. Digital photos of valuable items can also be used to help identify them.
• Do not prop open entrances to any buildings, residential or academic.
• Report lost access cards or keys immediately.
• Report all maintenance problems to USU Facilities by calling 435-797-1947.