Ginny Wilson, the student director for Safe Campuses Now at the University of Georgia, loads copies of The Informer to take to apartment complexes, dorms and businesses in Athens. MORRIS NEWS SERVICE

Publication educates on campus crime

ATHENS, Ga. - If the new crop of University of Georgia students isn't more savvy about personal safety than last year's, it won't be from a lack of effort by Safe Campuses Now.

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The nonprofit group that promotes crime prevention through education and awareness has begun distributing 35,000 copies of the Fall 2003 edition of The Informer, the organization's biannual newspaper written, designed and distributed for students by students.

"It's not just 28 pages of crime prevention stuff, because if that's all it had, students wouldn't pick it up," said Keith Sims, the executive director of Safe Campuses Now.

"This edition of The Informer has 'fun fluff' because that's what it needs to be interesting and grab the students' attention," she said.

Noncrime-related features include "Who Let The Dawgs Out?" - a story about the collection of fiberglass bulldogs displayed throughout Athens.

In addition to crime-prevention tips, The Informer contains testimonials from students about how they either became victims of crime or placed themselves in untenable situations.

One anonymous writer tells of what happened when she got behind the wheel of a car, thinking she hadn't consumed enough alcohol to be legally intoxicated.

"I learned if convicted of DUI, I would face a minimum of 24 hours in jail, probation, and community service," she wrote.

Ms. Sims said 14,000 copies of The Informer are earmarked for local apartment complexes, 5,000 are going to fraternities and sororities, and 6,000 copies will be for UGA dorms.

Remaining copies will be given to businesses.

--From the Monday, August 11, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle