Texas Tech's Clery Compliance office sent that alert. It says the two students accepted a ride from people they did not know after leaving the Broadway area after midnight on Oct. 1. Officer Caitlynn Jeffries, the department's public information officer, says the alerts serve another purpose too.
"It's an opportunity for students to understand what may have happened in their community so that they can take more precautions, if they think it's necessary to do so," Jeffries said.
Jeffries says awareness can prevent some crime, and that starts before the night does. Students should decide how they will get a ride home and where they plan to go. They should also tell friends who are staying in that they will be out, so someone can watch out for them.
Drinks matter too. If a student is left alone with someone they do not know or trust, Jeffries says they should not drink what is in front of them. Students who run into trouble should report it without fear, even if drugs or alcohol played a role. Officers ask about both to assess the situation, not to make an arrest or write a citation, Jeffries says.
Going out as a group is the easy part, and Jeffries says officers often see people arrive together and leave separately.