1 . Several recent cases of violence against students at U.S. colleges have made global headlines, causing questions about the safety of America’s campuses. Yet statistics from the U.S. government show that the number of crimes reported at colleges and universities actually decreased in recent years. ________, most colleges have stepped up security measures, employing new technology and________ services to increase campus safety.

At New York University, the Safe Ride van service is a routine part of college life. Dana Reszutek used the service at night to travel between campus buildings, which are staffed with security guards for additional________. One night, when a stranger followed Reszutek to her residence hall, he was stopped by the guard. “I wasn’t harmed or touched,” she said. “It’s________ like these that show how high a level of importance safety is to NYU.”

The most recent campus-security trend is probably the introduction of mobile safety apps, which enable students to________ panic buttons, spread their GPS locations or even turn their smartphones into________ devices soothers can see what’s happening. LiveSafe helps students________ information with each other and with law-enforcement officers. Its SafeWalk feature allows students’ friends to________ walk them home by watching their progress on a map. “It’s a great way to increase communication about safety and to break down barriers between students as they________ for one another,” its developer said.

Since most students are never without their smartphones, some feel mobile apps provide better security than the blue-light emergency call boxes dotting most campuses. Yet Thomas Clark, a lieutenant in Western Illinois University’s Public Safety Office, said the boxes—which connect callers to emergency responders—provide an important “________ layer of protection.”

It’s also important for students to take responsibility for their own safety. Becoming familiar with local neighborhoods and campus services are key. In safety tips posted online, many universities and campus police departments emphasize alertness and basic safeguards such as traveling in groups and familiarizing yourself with your________.

Personal-safety expert David Nance says the most important thing students can do is to be________—which means not being distracted by smartphones or other devices. He also recommends learning________ techniques, knowing common distraction tricks used by attackers and keeping a safe distance from strangers.

Students who are thinking about studying in the U.S. can________ campus safety before applying to or deciding on a particular school. Federal law requires American colleges and universities to________ crime statistics every year. This information may be included on a school’s website or can be found online through the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety.