University of GeorgiaHealth & Safety Summary

Written by Christopher Joshua Benton

Christopher Joshua Benton

Hometown

Norfolk, VA

Major

English/Magzine Print Journalism/New Media

View all previous student authors

Overall, UGA students feel safe on campus about 99 percent of the time. Walking home from downtown can potentially be dangerous, especially if you are alone-some people have been mugged and even raped doing so. Students should always travel in groups. The downtown cops are mainly there to bust underage drinkers, and they are usually out in droves, so trying to run from them doesn't always work. There are campus police everywhere you look, as well as Athens-Clarke County cops. There are call-boxes all over the place, too. The streets and parking lots are well lit, but some of the parking structures are in shady areas that are not the greatest places to be at night. Security at major events has increased year after year since 9/11, so fans can expect their purses and cargo pant pockets to be searched at the entrance to every football game and at most other sporting events. There are also cops at the gate who run metal-detector tests on random or suspicious fans. There are plenty of security officials and cops around on game days, so incidents are kept to a minimum. Also, on game days, cops are pretty lax on enforcing drinking laws, allowing open containers and drunk minors to slide by unbothered.

In terms of health services, the University Health Center is usually a little crowded, but there are good doctors available, and the pharmacy is located in the same building. There are also alcohol awareness classes at the Health Center for those unlucky students who were caught drinking underage in the dorms.