IU club teams with police to promote safety

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - College is supposed to be a fun educational experience, but many students become victims of campus crimes.

Students at Indiana University's Bloomington campus returned this fall with the case of Lauren Spierer - missing for months - heavy on their minds. And campus police said there have been four reported forcible rapes since Aug. 12.

That's all part of the reason an awareness club on campus teamed up with IU police to share the best ways for students to stay safe on and off campus. The session was called "Street Smarts." And though the officer conducting the session Thursday didn't want to publicly answer specific questions about the Spierer case, he did have plenty of advice for students.

The officer leading the discussion Thursday tolds students carrying that mace in their backpack or purse isn't enough. He suggested students keep the product in their hand when out in a potentiall dangerous setting, and to practice using the device before they encounter  stressful situations.