So, it doesn’t take a brainiac to realize that Northeastern’s campus is right in the middle of the city. It’s also pretty common knowledge that crime rates in the city are higher than Smalltown, USA.

The issue of personal safety is an ongoing conversation that can last for hours, but when it comes down to it we live in the 21st century. It’s no longer 1920. When a crime takes place the town crier doesn’t pop out and point the finger.

It’s not all just ATM scams and those horrible entrapping SPAM e-mails that entice for your credit card info. Anyone in the city is vulnerable to more than mugging, robbery and vandalism. There are also those crimes which target certain types of people — females, the elderly, and people who are alone.

While random acts of violence are not usual, they still happen. Students need to stand up, take notice of their surroundings and find means to protect themselves. Whether it be locking your door or carrying a whistle on your key chain anything is better than nothing.

While Northeastern does have campus security and the university does take measures to protect students in dorm rooms, students are not always safe.

It’s that one student who signs in a person they don’t know at a CR station that puts you in harms way. It’s that one roommate who forgets to lock the apartment door that makes you vulnerable. And it’s that one person who doesn’t look behind him to make sure the door closes that can expose you to anyone in the city.