Two Women Assaulted at FAU

This past Thursday FAU posted a campus-wide alert (using their email alert system) that a “Hispanic Male in his mid 20’s” was wanted for questioning regarding the assault of two women on campus. You can see the full police flyer direct from FAU and the full email is at the end of this posting.

Rather than allow students, faculty, and staff the ability to legally defend themselves as they can anywhere outside of campus, the University (and most other universities in the country) would rather offer counseling for victims and classes of defense tactics. They also offer some other safety advice:

If you suspect that someone is following you, drive to the nearest open public place, to the University Police or the local police department.

Walk to your vehicle in pairs or in a group.

Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for suspicious people or activities.

Vary your routine; use a different route, different times.

There are a few more, but this sample is enough to see what the FAU police want students, faculty, and staff to do. Rather than have any effective means of stopping an assailant, they would rather each person to look around and wait until they are attacked. Personally, I don’t want to wait to be attacked. I don’t want to be attacked at all, but I certainly don’t want my only defense to be shouting for help from a police force that, as we can see in the example of these two assaulted women, only arrive after the damage is already done.

Florida Law isn’t very clear on how you are permitted to defend yourself on a Florida campus. Firearms are totally prohibited; it is a felony to have one on campus. But what about other items such as pepper spray or any other chemical device that falls within the legal limits to carry on or about your person everywhere that isn’t a college campus?

I’ve spoken with a Lieutenant of the FAU Police, who told me that you are permitted to carry pepper spray, or other chemical spray, on your person so long as it is not used in an offensive manner and of course, that it is legal within Florida. You’re also permitted to carry a knife, as long as it fits Florida law for being a pocket knife. That is, a knife that has a blade within 4” long and folds. If you are doubtful about something you wish to carry, I strongly suggest you run it by the campus police before using it and getting yourself in a whole heap of trouble.

Why does the administration of the school not inform their students, faculty, and staff that they are permitted to carry these items when sending out these alert emails? While I think that much needs to be done regarding the carrying of firearms on campus, these devices are at least better than nothing. Criminals can essentially do whatever they want on our campuses with little or no resistance; as soon as more of them start figuring that out, we’re going to be in some serious trouble unless we (the students, faculty, and staff) already have the means to defend ourselves.

Laws can only be created for the law abiding citizens. Criminals aren’t going to suddenly stop doing what they are doing simply because a law gets written. They criminals who by their very definition, are “guilty of breaking the law”. These laws only stop us, the law abiding citizens, from protecting ourselves.

This is the type of situation in which we can’t be reactive - we must be proactive. We must remove the legislation which prevents us from protecting ourselves and our loved ones on college campuses. Settling for any less is spitting in the face of our founding fathers who specifically stated in the Bill of Rights that:

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

That means, in plain english, that everyone has a right to defend themselves and no government can take that away from you.

TO: The FAU Community FROM: FAU Police Department

The health, safety and welfare of Florida Atlantic University’s faculty, staff and students are of utmost importance.

Earlier today, the FAU Police Department released a description of a male wanted for questioning related to the assaults of two women on the Boca Raton campus. The individual’s image was captured by FAU surveillance cameras, and community members have contacted the Police Department with information related to the investigation. If you have information that could help the police locate this man please call 561-297-3500. The original message released by FAU Police, including a sketch of the individual, is available at www.fau.edu.

It is important to note that FAU offers the following services for your safety and convenience while on the University campuses:

Victim Advocate: The FAU Police Services Department provides victim advocacy services to the University community. You do not need to make a police report to speak with the Victim Advocate, Angie Gifford.
Services through this program include referrals to other social agencies, notifications, accompaniment through the criminal justice process and information regarding your options as the victim of a crime. All services are free and confidential. Visit http://police.fau.edu/victimservices.asp or call 561-297-0500 for further information or email victimservices@fau.edu.

Counseling Center: FAU?s Counseling Center, a division of Student Affairs, offers free, individual and group counseling services to all FAU students. Its professionally trained staff seeks to assist students with social, emotional and academic concerns in a sensitive, caring and confidential manner. Visit http://www.fau.edu/student/counsel/About.htm or call 561-297-3540 for further information.

Code Blue phones - Code Blue phones are located at various locations throughout the University and may be used for emergencies or if information is needed. These phones are clearly marked and are direct lines to FAU Police Services dispatch.

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) - The FAU Police Services Department offers the R.A.D. program several times throughout the year. This program is a practical self-defense course for women that stresses education and prevention tactics that increase a woman’s chances for avoiding or surviving assault or abduction encounters. More information is available at 561-297-3500 or online at http://police.fau.edu/rad.asp.

In addition, the FAU Police Department asks you to follow the safety tips below:

• Walk to your vehicle in pairs or in a group.

• Vary your routine; use a different route, different times.

• Follow a well-lit pathway or roadway.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Watch for suspicious people or activities.

• Be aware of the locations of all telephones on campus and in parking lots. Use them if you are concerned or feel your safety is in jeopardy.

• When you enter your vehicle, lock all the doors and turn on your headlights. This will allow you to see anyone outside in the dark.

• If you are unfamiliar with the parking lot, drive through it and check it first. If you don’t feel safe, go elsewhere and wait for someone else to arrive.

• Have your keys in your hand so that you don’t have to search for them when you reach your vehicle.

• When you know you will be returning to your vehicle late at night, try to park in a well-lit area.

• Before getting into your vehicle, visually inspect the interior for anything suspicious.

• Report any safety concerns to the University Police Department or the local police department.

• Do not offer rides to strangers.

• If you suspect that someone is following you, drive to the nearest open public place, to the University Police or the local police department.

If at any time while on an FAU campus you have a concern regarding your safety, please contact the FAU Police Department at 561-297-3500.

The following is a quote the FAU policy of what weapons are prohibited:

Weapons: Any firearm, sword, sword cane, dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, traditional martial arts weapons (such as throwing stars), tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, electric conductive device (either contact or dart-firing), destructive device (i.e., bombs), or other deadly weapon except a common pocketknife, plastic knife, blunt-bladed table knife, kitchen knives in designated food preparation areas, or pocketsize self-defense chemical spray of not more than two ounces.