Unfortunately, we do not live in the age of our grandparents in which even a stranger on the street could most likely be trusted. We live in a day filled with alarms and security systems to protect ourselves and the ones we love.  Sometimes, however, there is nothing we can do.
Recently I received a phone call from a close friend of mine who had an encounter with a sketchy character. She said she heard a knock at her door around nine o’clock last night. Because she wasn’t expecting any visitors at the time, she was startled by the sudden disturbance. When she looked out the peephole of her door, she saw a large, unidentifiable man standing there.
Luckily, my friend is quite intelligent and when she put two and two together she decided not to answer the door. If you were in a similar situation, what would you do?
Personally, I would have opened the door with a baseball bat in my hand, ready to go, but most people might think that is an irresponsible move in reference to my livelihood. So, what is a better idea? Do you know how to protect yourself in different situations?
First off, call the police.  They are there to assist you in any way you need. That is their job. If you feel threatened, seek their help. However, if push came to shove, the Mississippi Castle Law states you can defend yourself and your home from any attack or intrusion without criminal or civil consequences. This does not mean beat up anyone who walks onto your front lawn, but it does mean you can take whatever means necessary to protect yourself in the place that is supposed to remain the safest.
Secondly, don’t open the door to strangers, period. I know everyone has heard this since they were children, but now is the time to use that information hard core. You never know of what people are capable. If my friend had opened the door, there is no telling what could have happened.
Also, living alone is probably not the best idea. Having roommates is a good way to make sure someone always knows where you are and what’s going on. This way, if anything were to ever happen, there is an automatic accountability of your whereabouts.
My friend did do the right thing, though. After she reported the incident to the police, they came to check the scene. They informed her she was not the first to call about the same man roaming around the apartments. 
Many tenants had been calling about the same suspicious character they were not familiar with around the apartments.
The police let my friend know the man was a local who had been knocking on doors asking people for money. (While he probably would not have brought any harm upon these people he came in contact with), the threat that remains is still a very real one.
It is possible to actively protect yourself without causing harm to others. Stay alert and aware of what’s going on, check who is there before you swing open your door and always know the emergency numbers to call in the case of an emergency. You never know what could happen.
Sarah Ulmer is a sophomore majoring in communication. She can be contacted at [email protected].