Barnard College Barnard College
Community Safety

Safety Tips

Be Alert, Stay in Communication

BASIC Safety is both an individual and community effort.

Barnard's CARES staff are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment conducive to learning for students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the Barnard College campus. In addition to providing security, fire safety and emergency management on campus, senior administrators of the Department conduct crime awareness seminars and personally assist students requiring police reporting, response, or other assistance.  This page offers preparedness and safety information to help our community make informed decisions in the community and on line.

Visit the College pandemic response site for the most up to date information on current health and safety expectations on campus.

Although much has changed about NYC since the start of the pandemic, safety practices and awareness are recommended.

Situational Awareness

Simply knowing what is going on around you is situational awareness and a critical step in individual and community safety. Situational awareness is also a decision making process. Thinking about what provides a sense of safety or interferes with sense of safety, including: light, visibility, time of day, presence of people, familiarity with space or events, distractions, or other context.

Safety as a Community

Help ensure your safety and support a safe community by being familiar with these recommended tips:

  • AVOID WALKING ALONE. When traveling in a group, have a plan and do not leave anyone behind. Always tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back. When meeting someone for the first time, go with a friend nearby, and meet in a populated public place. Have an exit plan, think about how (and when) you will get home.

  • USE WELL-POPULATED, WELL-LIT STREETS. Exercise caution when walking about, especially after dark, late at night, and/or in areas unfamiliar to you. Use well-populated, well-lit streets. Know where you are, where you're headed, and how to get there. Planning in advance makes it easier to remain aware.

  • BE ALERT. Always be alert and aware of your surroundings. Whether in a crowded area or places new or familiar, it is important to stay attentive to what is occurring nearby and what options exist for getting assistance, if needed.

  • LIMIT DISTRACTIONS. Limit distractions of constant cell phone and technology use, high volume of ear buds while traveling; lack of attention can create opportunity for someone intent on theft or can lead to missed cues of nearby incidents. 

  • REPORT OBSERVATIONS to the station attendant, after the fact to CARES or Columbia Public Safety. Sharing information is helpful.

  • CALL FOR HELP. Call Community Safety or 911 to report any suspicious activity or criminal acts immediately. Prompt reporting increases the chances of gathering critical evidence, recovering stolen property, and prosecuting offenders, particularly in cases involving sex offenses. Reporting to the police also ensures access to available victim support services.

  • KEEP DOORS LOCKED. Locking doors with a key, regardless of the residence, helps reduce theft and enhance personal safety. Many thefts occur from unlocked rooms, even during brief absences. 

  • LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. If you feel uncomfortable, seek out a populated well-lit area such as stepping into an open store or restaurant. In Morningside Heights, look for businesses that display the Red Lion logo in their window.  If you enter these businesses, the merchant will assist you in phoning Community Safety, Columbia's Public Safety, or the police, and wait with you for a security response.

  • PRACTICE SUBWAY SAFETY. When using the subway, do not ride in the last car. Look for the white and black “zebra board” above the platform, which shows the location of the conductor’s car. Look for the subway stations with the Green Bulbs at the entrance, these indicate stations open (a red bulb indicates exit only) Do not expose expensive items while in transit.

  • SECURE VALUABLES (cash, cards, tech devices) in an inner pocket or within your bag. Have your fare available for your travel needs - whether using a metro card, the Omny app, or another linked payment device.

  • WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS. In person, via email, and on the web, check the source of information, seek clarification if something sounds too good to be true

  • USE CARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Think about what you share, when you share locations, and the privacy of your social media accounts.

  • SECURE YOUR INFORMATION. Think twice before giving out your phone number, address, or email address to people you have recently met. Be cautious about giving out your birth date, social security number, or other information that can be used for identity theft.

  • DO NOT PROP DOORS. Exterior doors should never be propped open, and any found in that state should be closed immediately, as they pose a significant security risk. Doors should not be opened to unknown individuals.

  • NEVER LEND A KEY OR KEY CARD TO ANYONE. Doing so may lead to referral to the campus Conduct system. Report lost or stolen keys as soon as possible.

  • REPORT ALL SECURITY-RELATED MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. Campus facilities and landscaping are maintained to minimize hazardous conditions. Locks, doors, windows, exterior lights in need of replacement, shrubbery in need of trimming or other unsafe conditions should be reported immediately to Facilities Services at (212) 854-2041 or (4-2041 from a campus phone).

  • VEHICLE SAFETY. Park vehicles in well-lit areas and ensure they are locked. Store valuables securely in the trunk.

  • LOCK YOUR BIKE. Cable locks can be cut. If you need a bicycle lock, Columbia Public Safety offers discount Kryptonite Bike Locks at cost, Credit / Debit cards accepted. For more information or to set up an appointment to purchase, please email Columbia's Crime Prevention team at: ps-crimeprevention@columbia.edu

  • PROTECT LAPTOPS AND YOUR OTHER DEVICES. These high-value items should always be secured, whether in a room or a study area, to reduce the risk of theft.

If you are lost or without means to return to campus, call CARES Response at 212-854-3362 and we will assist you in navigating your options. Make sure you save this campus phone number in your phone contacts directory for ease of use, if needed.

If you have questions or are in need of assistance, do not be afraid to ask for it. As residents of New York City, we live in one of the safest cities in the world. Using these safety tips will enhance your safety wherever you travel.

NYC.gov provides additional New York City safety tips. Enhanced safety patrols are provided in Morningside Park with Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Officers in the park daily.  

Emergency Blue Light Call Boxes

There are several Blue Emergency Lights located throughout the Barnard campus and nearby affiliated campuses to provide an immediate response to you if you need help or if you feel threatened in any way. Call boxes have a red button and a blue light above the box. Look for the blue lights near campus buildings and in the lower-level tunnels of Barnard buildings.

On campus, Barnard Community Safety provides Community Safety Officers (Security Guards) on campus patrol and Access Attendants staffing occupied Barnard Residential Buildings. The CARES Response Team assists with non-emergency (including matters that may include concerning experiences, time sensitive but not imminent threat of harm) campus needs and supports emergency response on campus. Within the Morningside Heights area, both the New York Police Department (NYPD) and, in the nearby parks, the City of New York Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Officers provide a safety presence. Columbia University Public Safety has Security staff patrol in and around Columbia buildings. In the surrounding area, NYPD and PEP Officers continue to provide increased presence within and at the perimeter of Morningside and Riverside Parks in the 26th Precinct. This may mean a heightened presence of NYPD vehicles in the neighborhood, at times with their emergency light bar flashing.

Red Lion Safe Haven Locations

The Public and Community Safety Departments of Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College collectively maintain Blue Light Emergency Call Boxes at locations within and surrounding the greater campus area. If you are in need of help or feel threatened in any way, use one of these call boxes which connect directly to Barnard's, Columbia's, or Teacher College's public safety departments.

Red Lion Safe Haven Locations can be found online to learn more about participating businesses in the Morningside, Manhattanville, and Medical Center Columbia communities.


Transportation Options & Information

Need a safe and free alternative to walking alone at night? In partnership with Columbia University, we now offer an on-demand ride share option through VIA Ride Share.

Bicycle Safety

While out and about, remember bicycle safety:

Bike rack locations on Barnard's campus are located near the main entrance and inside the 119th Street gate (near the Diana Center).  Additional locations on the Columbia University Campus.

Cable locks can be cut. If you need a bicycle lock, Columbia Public Safety offers discount Kryptonite Bike Locks at cost, Credit / Debit cards accepted.  For more information or to set up an appointment to purchase, please email Columbia's Crime Prevention team at: ps-crimeprevention@columbia.edu