Heidi Cuevas | Staff Writer
Part of the excitement of starting the semester means joining in on all the fun events on campus and getting to be involved as much as possible. However, beneath the surface of it all there are dangers we need to be aware of— especially during the “Red Zone.”
The Red Zone isn’t just a football reference, it’s the first few months of the semester when college students’ safety are at risk.
From the beginning of the semester until Thanksgiving break, college students are vulnerable to sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults—first year and transfer female students being the most at risk.
FIU being an international university means that not only are incoming freshmen and transfers coming from high school or other colleges, but from around the world. Campus isn’t the only thing that is new, the entire city is.
According to RAINN, 26.4% of female undergraduate students experience sexual assault involving physical force, violence, or incapacitation— and that is only based on the ones that have been reported.
The Universities Annual Security and Fire Safety report for 2024 crime statistics reveal that rape, dating violence, stalking, and fondling on Modesto Maidique Campus and housing have decreased between 2021 and 2023.
Undoubtedly women are at a higher risk of assault, but they aren’t the only victims.
Male college-aged students are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault. Yet due to reporting barriers like social stigma, they are also less likely to report an assault.
Though the Red Zone time period is when 50% of sexual assaults occur on campus, it is not the only time. We need to be safe now and throughout the rest of our time at FIU.
FIU Police Department offers a Rape Agression Defense Program (R.A.D) and a Self-Defense Awareness and Familirization Exchange (S.A.F.E) program dedicated to introducing and teaching women self-defense techniques that are realistic to survive unexpected attacks.
These efforts made by FIUPD can only be effective if students of all ages and genders take the time in either the fall or spring semesters— being prepared can’t hurt.
Thinking about what could happen can be terrifying, especially when many of us just want to enjoy our time at FIU. Being prepared and informed is better than taking the risk.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.
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