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Safety

Stay safe while living or commuting off-campus with essential safety tips and resources. Be aware of your surroundings, use well-lit routes, secure your home, and stay connected with emergency contacts. Learn about ways to keep you and your home protected. Your safety is our priority—stay informed and prepared.

Personal Safety

Walk Home Safely

East Lansing is overall a safe place, but if you are not aware of your surroundings, you might put yourself at risk! When walking off-campus late at night, remember these tips:

Don’t walk by yourself
Walk in well-lit areas
Stay alert and aware of your surroundings
Stay off of your phone, but have it on you in case of emergency

Local Safe Rides Home

ASMSU Safe Ride Program: Safe Ride is a late night transportation service provided to members of the Michigan State University community as a safe and free alternative to walking home alone after dark. University Safe Ride programs are proven to reduce assault-related dangers and drunk driving both on and off campus.

Schedule a ride by downloading the SafeMSU App
Please be prepared for wait times that can exceed 30-45 minutes due to rider demand

MSU Night Owl: Offered through CATA bus services for the cost of 60 cents per ride.

Schedule a ride by calling 517-432-8888 (2.8888 from campus phones)
A small bus will arrive within 20 minutes

Rideshare Safety Tips

Follow the rideshare vehicle GPS
Confirm the vehicle description and verbally confirm the driver’s name before getting into the vehicle
Do not ride in the front seat
Do not share your cell phone information
If you feel unsafe or that something is not right, leave the vehicle and call the police.

Home Safety

Renters are at a higher risk of home burglary than homeowners!

Crime prevention is a priority for the City and MSU. The following list of things to remember is meant for all MSU community members!

Lock your doors and windows, especially when you are asleep, you are gone or are planning on extended time away
Consider adding exterior lighting such as motion lights and having interior lights on a timer system
Work with your friends and neighbors to monitor each other’s properties, especially when you plan extended time away
Lock up your valuable items when unattended, including your car
Register your bicycle with police – this may help the police recover it in the event of theft
Report suspicious activities and or persons to the East Lansing Police Department or MSU Police promptly

Fire Safety

Home Fire Prevention

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 94% of all campus fires occur in off-campus housing. Here are some common factors:

Automatic sprinklers were disabled
Missing or disabled smoke detectors
Impaired judgement from alcohol consumption
Most occurred on weekends between Midnight - 6 am

For information and tips related to college fire safety, see Campus Fire Safety tips (PDF) provided by the US Fire Administration Department.

Outdoor Fire Permits and Safety

In the City of East Lansing, outdoor fires are allowed with the following rules and guidelines:

Fire permit must be obtained by the City of East Lansing
If you are in a rental home, you must get permission from the property owner
The fire must be continuously attended and not left alone
A water source must be nearby and ready to use
No burning of non-wood items or building materials
The outdoor fire cannot be within 15 feet of a structure, property line, driveway, roadway or combustible materials. Must be covered by a “spark arresting screen.”

Follow this link to submit an outdoor fire permit with the City of East Lansing.

Local Safety Alerts

City of East Lansing Safety Alerts

Nixle Text System

Capital Area (Ingham County)

Everbridge Text Alert

MSU Safety Alert System