Quite simply, safety’s not an issue. It may be uncomfortable to walk alone on the paths from the main library back to the dorms, but it’s definitely safe. Very few incidents have occurred on or around campus in the past few years. Even with those couple of incidents, the vast majority of the student body have no problem walking around campus late into the night hours. If walking doesn’t seem like a good option, the Student Escort Service (or LAID Van) is up and running from 6 p.m.–2 a.m. every night, carting students all around campus. On the weekends, the van even runs down to the fraternity houses, so you can make it to the fraternity parties and back with minimal work on your part.
VUPD makes themselves pretty visible on campus. They always have two vehicles patrolling campus to make sure nothing is awry. They are around for the students' safety, and it is evident that the majority of the students feel safe on campus. The police officers most often catch people for drinking or for parking in the wrong area, rather than any criminal activity. If there is any crime on campus, President Heckler makes sure that all students get an email about it right away to explain the situation.
You can wander outside of campus in the evenings with little concern, but just always be aware of yourself and your belongings. Valpo is safe, but just like everywhere else, it is a good idea to keep track of your stuff—if you don’t, someone else probably will.