After your Wednesday night chemistry exam, you are walking home alone. It is dark and cold and beginning to rain. You are in a rush to get back to your warm residence hall room when you hear footsteps quickly approaching. You take longer strides and pull your roommate’s number up on speed dial. Just as the dark figure throws his arms around you. You see it is your best friend Dave coming from the same test. What a relief…

Although Iowa State might feel like a home where you are always surrounded by your best friends, it is not always so safe. In fact, 80 percent of sexual assaults are committed by acquaintances of the victims.

As a woman, there have been nights where I have felt uneasy walking home alone in the dark. During my freshman year, I was in an unfamiliar place, and I did not trust anyone. Over my years of attending Iowa State, I have found ways to protect myself from on campus predators.

According to Sarah Lawrence College’s Statistics on Sexual Assault, one in four women are sexually assaulted on college campuses every year. Although this is a shocking statistic, women have many ways to help protect themselves from sexual assault.

The buddy system works. After going out on a Friday or Saturday night, walk home with a friend. Statistics on Sexual Assault states 50 percent of sexual assaults happen after the consumption of alcohol and 74 percent of assaulters have consumed alcohol before sexually assaulting someone. Going home from a party with a group of friends or taking the Help Van can deter predators.

The best way to defend yourself from sexual assault, however, is to try your best to stay out of harm’s way. When I am in a situation where I absolutely have to walk home alone in the dark, I talk on my cellphone with my dad so that if something goes awry, he is the first person to know. Though these are good things to do in an emergency, pre-emptive preparation is always a safer bet.

Iowa State offers many helpful courses such as Yong Chin Pak’s self-defense class. Kickboxing, judo and taekwondo classes can be taken at State Gym. Additionally, when I have to walk alone at night, I will sometimes put my keys between each of my fingers so I know that if I have to throw a punch that it will make an impact.

For men, there is sometimes a gray area determining whether or not a women is consenting. The simple rule of “only if she says yes” could save many men from being charged with sexual assault or harassment when that is not what they were meaning to do at all.

Since 2006, there have been 267 sexual assaults on women reported to the Sexual Assault Response Team, and there have been eight assaults on men. Though the number of reported assaults might be surprising, many sexual assaults go unreported every year. Many women and men feel that sexual assault is something that is taken lightly and does not need to be reported. As long as predators go unreported, they could be doing the same thing to someone else. It is important that victims communicate their encounters.

Men are also vulnerable to sexual assault. Sexual assault does not only happen on the party scene. Sexual assault in the workplace is something of which people of both genders should be aware. In the workplace, even saying something sexually inappropriate, could be considered harassment.

If you are sexually assaulted, it is very important that it is reported. Medical examinations and follow up appointments are free whether you choose to report the events or not. The Sexual Assault Response Team right here at Iowa State is ready to help. If a friend comes to you about having been sexually assaulted, it is important to listen and help them take the right steps to getting help.

Both women and men should know what sexual assault is and how to defend themselves from attackers. As freshmen, we all watch the “Unless There’s Consent” video but actually applying that video to everyday life to steer clear of sexual assault is something we should all consider.

Iowa State is our home, but it is not always 100-percent safe, which necessitates that we be cautious and prepared for on-campus assault.