Keeping yourself safe and avoiding dangerous situations is often hard when you are a student, especially as the days get darker. Criminal activity can happen at any time of the day and when you least expect it, so it is always a good idea to prepare for the worst. Oxford Brookes University are tackling the problem of keeping students safe with self-defence classes and free attack alarms to every female student.  With the nights drawing in and students being tipsy and vulnerable, a safety bus would be brilliant.  | | Zoe Campbell, Women's Officer for Oxford Brookes University. |
Oxford Brookes used to have a women's only safety bus but it grew old and became too costly to repair. Zoe Campbell, Women's Officer for the university, explained how even though they don't have a safety bus, there are other safety measures being tackled. "We are running a self-defence course every Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00 until the end of term. If it is successful, then we will keep the classes going throughout the year." Unfortunately there is a fixed fee for students at £20 for a full term's course, but with extra sponsorship, the university hopes to make it free for all. | Priority is given to students on their own or in small numbers. | | Oxford University Student Union |
The Oxford University Student's Union (OUSU) has a nightbus that runs between 22:00 and 02:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will take you anywhere within the ring-road for £1. There are attack alarms available for just £1 from any college shop and is a very loud deterent in an emergency. | It is often more likely that it is men than women walking on their own from a night out, that are attacked. | | Andrew Copson |
Andrew Copson, the Vice President (Welfare) of the OUSU, explained how the university works to protect students. "We work very closely with the police to find out how crime is affecting students in the area. Our nightbus runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night for anyone who feels that they need to use it."
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