The best advice: don’t walk alone at night
In the past few weeks, many “timely warnings” have been sent out about the muggings, carjackings and high-profile crimes happening to SCAD students (and even a professor). Most of these students were walking alone late at night when the crime occurred. Some of these crimes have happened before 9 p.m.
It seems that once the sun sets, everyone should be prepared. It also seems simple, then, to find a walking buddy if you believe you are going to walk around downtown Savannah alone.
To prepare for nightfall, SCAD security reminds students in each email to “stay vigilant.” In the simplest terms, SCAD tells us to stay alert. Is this really the way anyone should go about their day? Waiting for nightfall to be paranoid that they may get mugged?
It is the responsibility of the student to be careful where they go late at night. Even if it’s 3 a.m. and you have blocks to walk before you sleep, it’s probably not best to walk alone, regardless of where you are. Students should consider their options before walking.
SCAD security offers students the Red Eye Ride, at (912) 525-RIDE. The service gives SCAD students who live on- and off-campus a free ride home (anywhere downtown or midtown Savannah), given they are picked up from a SCAD building. The service runs from midnight-6 a.m. Students may call this service and expect an hour wait before getting a ride home. Waiting at a SCAD building for an hour sounds like a better price to pay, rather than paying to replaced your hijacked car, iPod, etc.
If the hour wait seems a bit ridiculous, why aren’t students calling their friends? Communication seems to be key here. And the best advice definitely still is to not walk alone anywhere at night. Assume the responsibility before leaping into the streets: be alert before stepping out into the dark by your lonesome, try calling SCAD security, remember to acquire a walking buddy, or a group of some sort and continue, as always, to “stay vigilant.”
