At my first glance, the email from campus security only inspired slightly condescending amusement.

On Oct.5, a college-aged male, presumably acting according to his blood-alcohol-level rather than his age, forgot that laws require pants when he appears in public; hey, it happens to the best of us.

Writing it off as a typical Saturday night, the email hardly frightened me. The flasher meant no harm – no harm, no foul.

However, the event made me think: what if he had meant someone harm? What if he intended to stalk someone, or worse? We see the Saint Anselm College campus as a crime-free haven, but the email made me acknowledge that crime (whether amusing or downright dangerous) can happen anywhere, even in our safe dream world on the Hilltop. Rather than fearing this reality, we need to consider it and prepare for it.

Immediately, I began examining my own unsafe habits. My five-foot-three, unarmed female self often walks home from the library at ungodly hours, alone with no martial arts experience.

I leave my laptop and phone charging unattended, thinking that no one here would steal them. After that email, however, I overhauled my downright foolhardy behavior.

No longer do I leave my belongings free for the taking, and I avoid walking alone after nightfall. Although hardly becoming scared or paranoid around campus, I vowed to be more aware (and, hey, signing up for a self-defense class might not hurt, either).

Campus-wide, perhaps we would do well to increase our level of diligence.

Glancing around the library, I see that I am not the only student who leaves their belongings unattended while they grab sustenance or a bathroom break.

I see dormitory doors propped open for anyone to enter. A recent security email noted that students leave their cars unlocked in the parking lot.

Although we have emergency “blue lights,” they seem far and few between compared to other campuses.

As grateful as I am for the safety and comfort of our campus, it only takes a few minor changes to prevent the dangerous and unexpected that can happen anywhere.

As safe as our campus typically is, the dangerous and unexpected has happened in recent memory. Not too long ago, someone broke into a dormitory common area, stealing a laptop.

Burglars have swiped items from cars around campus and even from academic offices. And, although the October 5th streaker was entertaining rather than threatening, he highlights that potential for real danger exists.

These few events should not paint the campus as rife with crime; if anything, these events remain in my mind because of their rarity.

Nevertheless, they illustrate that the need for caution exists. They illustrate that anything can happen, even in our idyllic atmosphere.

We at Saint Anselm have the luxury of a safe, well-maintained campus. We can feel secure when we walk home at night, and few among us feel that our belongings are ever in jeopardy from theft.

We sleep soundly without fearing someone entering our dormitories in the night. However, we must not take such safety for granted.

We must not allow our dream world to blind us to the reality of danger.

Although we can easily laugh at a drunken young man walking about campus sans pants, I hope the campus community uses this humorous opportunity to prevent potential danger before it occurs.