Safety on campus: Most schools are safe havens for learning. But dangers—crime, alcohol abuse, hazards—do exist. Knowing the realities can help you protect yourself

Careers and Colleges, March, 2002 by Nancy Fitzgerald

All that gambling puts students at risk for incurring huge debts, falling behind in classes, and even dropping out of school. Also, it's not uncommon for students with big gambling debts to do business with loan sharks--and if you don't pay up, O'Malley warns, "those guys will hurt you.

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE

* Never gamble on credit. Stay away from Internet gambling sites.

* Don't gamble while using alcohol or drugs.

* Avoid any type of illegal gambling--stay away from bookies and college sports gambling.

(*.) Because of the sensitive nature of this article, some names have been changed.

RELATED ARTICLE: DRUGS IN YOUR PAST? It Could Hurt Your Future

According to a law passed two years ago by Congress, first-time offenders convicted of possessing a controlled substance will be ineligible for federal financial aid for one year; a second offense cuts aid off for another year. Students convicted for the first time of selling a controlled substance cannot get aid for two years; after that, the ineligibility is indefinite.

Although the intent of Congress is to deprive drug abusers of college funding, many financial aid administrators feel the consequences are too harsh. "Keeping an individual undereducated, poor and barricaded from higher education doesn't solve the problem," says Phyllis Hooyman, director of financial aid at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

For more details, check www.ed.gov.

Web Watch

Security on Campus Inc.

www.campussafety.org

Department of Education Campus Crime Statics www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/RPI/security/html

Safe Campuses Now

www.uga.edu/sate-campus

Campus Safety Journal

www.campusjournal.com

Nancy Fitzgerald is the contributing editor at CAREERS & COLLEGES.