Keep in Mind

The NYU Handbook has the following advice to keep you safe when you go out on a date.
Source: “Dating Tips for Anyone Going out with Someone for the First Time and Women: Ways to Prevent Acquaintance Rape, Safety in the City,” Published by the NYU Office of International Students and Scholars

Dating Tips for Anyone Going out with Someone for the First Time
• Always carry money, even if your date is paying for the evening, in case of emergency.
• Never let your date take you somewhere you're not familiar. Always know the address and location of where you are.
• Decide beforehand who will pay.
• If at any time, you feel uncomfortable, leave. Listen to your intuition.
• Dress comfortably.
• Respect your date when you hear "no." NO means NO!
• Be on time. However, if your date is late, don't let it spoil the evening – remain pleasant.
• Introduce your date to a friend or someone you know.
• Tell a friend where you're going, or call your own answering machine as if you were calling a friend.
• Choose public places, such as coffee shops or restaurants, for first meetings.


Women: Ways to Prevent Acquaintance Rape
• Communicate your sexual desires and limits clearly. What you say and how you behave may create conflicting messages. Never give mixed messages.
• Learn to be assertive, to express your feelings and to say "no." Forget about being nice if you feel threatened. You have the right to protect yourself.
• Be an active partner in relationships and share decisions about what to do, where to meet and when to be intimate.
• Exercise caution when dating. Have first dates in public places. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Whenever possible, try to provide your own, reliable transportation.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable or think you may be at risk, leave the situation immediately and go to a safe place.
• Remember that leaving a party or other social event with someone you have just met can be extremely dangerous, since you may be placing yourself in a very vulnerable position.
• Avoid anyone who puts you down, talks negatively about women in general, is physically violent or does not respect you or your decisions.

Men: Ways to Prevent Acquaintance Rape
• Understand that forced sex is never acceptable and that rape is a felony.
• Stop if someone says "no," is reluctant or is not clearly consenting. Never take silence as consent. If you feel you are getting a double message, speak up and ask for absolute clarification. • Respect the word "no." When a woman says "no," believe her.
• Do not assume that a woman wants to have sex just because she drinks heavily, dresses in a particular manner or agrees to go to your room, house or apartment. Do not assume that if a woman agrees to kissing or other sexual intimacies, she is also willing to have sexual intercourse. • Never have sex with anyone who is drunk or has passed out.
• Seek professional help if anger and/or violence is a problem in your relationships with other people.
• Resist peer pressure to participate in violent or criminal acts. Your disapproval will help others understand that forcing sex is not acceptable. Remember, sexual assault can happen to you or to someone you love.