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

A DANGEROUS BREW

Scott Krueger was really smart. He had the brains and drive to make it into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the nation's top schools, where he planned to major in computer science. But just one week into his freshman year after an "Animal Night" fraternity party that featured chugging a bottle of spiced rum, he died of alcohol poisoning.

Krueger's tragic death illustrates a critical lesson for every student heading off to college: The biggest danger you may face there will be alcohol. Nationwide, 44 percent of students have engaged in binge drinking, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. According to The Chronicle, arrests for alcohol violations increased 4 percent from 1999 to 2001; arrests for drug violations grew by 10.2 percent.

And security officials say that not only does heavy drinking put you at risk for alcohol poisoning, it also makes you more likely to commit--or become a victim of other crimes, too. "Alcohol is behind 90 percent of campus crime," says Howard Clery, the treasurer for Security on Campus, a crime information network in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. It's often the fuel that fires crimes such as theft, vandalism, and rape.

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE

* When you hit drinking age, remember to always drink in moderation and try alternating with non-alcoholic beverages.

* Stay away from chugging contests and other drinking games.

* Be aware of who's dispensing drinks. Don't accept any drink from a stranger.

DATE RAPE

Kate Murray was upset about her boyfriend, who attended college in another state. So she was glad to be spending the afternoon with her friend Jim at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. When the freshman visited Jim's dorm room one day, she began crying.

"It was a vulnerable moment for me," Murray recalls. "He started to comfort me, but before I knew it, he was pinning me down. And he had turned the stereo up so loud that nobody could hear when I started screaming."

Murray had become a victim of date--or acquaintance--rape, a crime that has increased on many campuses. Safe Campuses Now reports that one in eight women will be raped during their college years, and 84 percent of them will know their assailants. Murray didn't report her incident because she was too embarrassed to talk about it.

Although most of the time date rape occurs while students are using alcohol or other drugs, that wasn't the case for Murray. "There was no alcohol involved," she says. "But people will take advantage of you if they want to."

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE

* Avoid alcohol and drugs, and be especially vigilant about date-rape drugs. Don't leave your drink where somebody can slip a drug into it.

* Always plan your "exit strategy." Bring enough money for cab fare home, and if you can, carry a cell phone of pager.

* Don't go out alone late at night. If you do take advantage of a school's escort or shuttle services.