Crimes and “Scams”
Sadly, crime is a fact of life in the United States. University and college campuses are not immune from these problems, but help is available. The primary duty of the police is to serve and protect you, and you should not hesitate to seek their help at any time. Find out if your institution has a campus police force or if students should contact local police when they need assistance.
The most common crime on U.S. campuses is theft of property left unattended or in an unlocked room, car, or apartment. More serious crimes–such as drug dealing, assault, and rape–also occur. Some behaviors, such as sexual harassment and spouse abuse, are crimes in the United States, even though they may not be crimes in your country. (See Chapter 12.) Protect yourself by exercising good sense and caution:
Keep your dorm room or apartment locked whenever you are away.
Do not leave your books, backpack, or purse unattended anywhere.
Buy a good lock for your bicycle and use it.
Learn what parts of town you should avoid at night.
Use caution with strangers who are overly friendly, who offer you gifts, or who ask you to accompany them to an unknown place.
Remember that 911 is an emergency number that you can call at any time from any telephone in the United States for help in an emergency.
Ask a reliable friend or your foreign-student adviser if you are in doubt about a person or an activity.
Sexual harassment is a particularly American concept and a very hot topic on campus and in the workplace. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other physical or verbal behavior of a sexual nature. Learn how sexual harassment is defined at your campus and what behaviors you should avoid. If you feel you are being sexually harassed it is important that you tell someone. Your foreign-student adviser can direct you to sources of information at your institution.
Spouse abuse, or domestic violence, is a crime in the United States. You may feel that all domestic matters, especially those that occur within your home, are private matters, but in the United States they cease to be private once one party uses physical violence. In most states, if a couple is fighting and the police come to the scene and find evidence of assault, they are required to arrest the attacker and put him or her in jail. In some cases, both participants may be arrested. If a woman feels she is being victimized by her husband or a person with whom she is living, she should seek help immediately. Help for men whose anger becomes uncontrolled and results in domestic violence can also be found.
If you are accused of committing a crime and have been arrested, remember that you do have certain rights. You should notify your foreign-student adviser as soon as possible. You also have the right to notify your government about your arrest or detainment. If you choose to do so, the police must inform the appropriate foreign consulate or embassy immediately. Your consular officers have the right to visit you and arrange for your legal representation. Many countries (for example, China, Nigeria, and Singapore) require that the consul be notified when their nationals are confined or detained. In these cases, you have no choice in the matter of whether the authorities notify your consulate; they must do so. Depending upon the severity of the crime of which you are accused, you should obtain legal assistance.
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