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KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Campus officials are making sure students are getting off to a safe start as classes begin on Thursday at Truman State University.  Public Safety Director Tom Johnson said they offer a lot of different programs to the students.

"We do offer a lot of different presentations” said Johnson.  “Just some recommendations, we also have an escort service we'll provide for our students if they're out late at night, don't feel safe, they can call us and we'll send over an officer to make sure they get to where they're going.”

Johnson said the university also offers a self-defense class.

“We offer the class through the RAD program which is called Rape Aggression Defense.  We have three instructors that are actually police officers.  The course is offered two times a year through the health and exercise science department where our students can sign up for that.”  Students can even earn college credit for the class.

Here is a list of other tips that Truman State University’s Public Safety Office would like for students to abide by:

- Don’t travel alone.  If you can, travel with a friend or even a group.
- Travel in lighted areas.  Try and avoid dark pathways.
- Know where the emergency phones are.  Truman has a total of 20 emergency phones situated around campus incase you feel threatened and in need of immediate assistance.
- Keep you cell phone on you at all times.  You never know when you’re going to need it, but it could save your life.

“One of the biggest things I can say” said Johnson, “If something doesn’t feel right to you, there’s probably a reason for that feeling so just get yourself to a safer place.”

You can find these tip and more by visiting the Truman Public Safety website.