College campuses, with their hallowed halls of academia and ivy-covered buildings, were once considered the provenance of safety for free-spirited youth engaged in higher learning and studying the rules of life.

That was until America was jolted wide-awake in 1986 by the brutal rape and murder of 19-year-old Jeanne Clery as she slept in her dormitory at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. After the murder, it was discovered that the school had failed to report 38 incidents of violent crimes three years prior to Clery's death, according to Michael A. Hodge, author of 'Safety Plan For College,' a self-published book available at Maha Publications.

The incident brought about the Clery Act in 1990, which was championed by Clery's parents, Connie and Howard, and other concerned citizens, who lobbied Congress.

But there is no need to go as far back as Clery's untimely death to underscore dangers that can lurk on college campuses. There was, for example, a fatal shooting recently at a Harvard University dormitory.

Hodge says he was prompted to write a 'Safety Plan for College' last fall after attending his son's freshman orientation at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., where parents peppered administrators with questions about campus safety.

"A common question was, 'will my child be safe here?' 'What procedures are in place to ensure the safety of my child?' It was interesting,'' he says. "The ocean is right across the street from the school. It's like paradise and we were all worried about safety.''

Hodge, a retired veteran of the U.S. Secret Service, is board certified in security management. He also is president of his own security management firm, Michael A. Hodge and Associates headquartered in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.

The 53-page book is a worthy purchase for students heading off to college this fall. It is filled with common sense advice that may slip the minds of parents and students in the excitement of preparing for the big leap to

Tips for parents include:
1) Understand the levels of crime on and near campuses.
2) Assess the potential for danger based on the school's geographic location and potential for natural disasters.
3) Establish emergency contacts for your child. They should include adults on and off campus as well as friends and associates on campus.
4) Equip your child with necessary electronic equipment and procedures for emergencies.
5) Periodically remind your child of potential dangers involving personal and property safety.


Hodge answers two questions for BV Bookshelf:
1) What should students, especially young women, know about campus safety?
It's important for students to understand that just as they develop a study plan, they need to develop a personal safety and security plan. An example of this would be to walk an evacuation route to determine if they can safely exit a building in case of an emergency.

Generally speaking, women are prone to incidents of crime such as theft, fraud, and assaults at higher rates than men on college campuses. With this understanding, women should exercise more caution and awareness and develop a personal safety plan as soon as they arrive on campus.

2) What should parents know about campus safety?
Parents should know foremost that laws have been established that allow them to research the level of crime on college campuses. Because of that, they are able to evaluate whether to send their child to a particular school. Secondly, parents should understand that although campus security is in place, their child needs their own personal safety plan that addresses the protection of their property. They also need a plan to remain safe while away from campus, and in case of a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.

If students take any of these steps, they have a good chance of remaining safe, though there is no fail safe plan.