“Never talk to strangers”. It is a timeless piece of advice that parents have been telling their children for generations. The implied threat is hardly ever explained, but as adults we know sexual crimes top the list. Although the stranger danger adage has been repeated over and over, it is only partially true. It may shock you to find that 8 out of 10 rape victims know their attacker.

Year after year, thousands of young women head off to university and college in all parts of the country. They are often unprepared for the dangers that they may lurk there - and it isn’t strangers. Being raped or assaulted by someone you know presents a whole new set of problems. For some reason, because it’s all happening within a closed group of friends and peers assaulted women are often not taken seriously and even get blamed by their own friends. No one wants to upset the apple cart.

Date and party rape are infrequently reported. Actually, that’s a big understatement- about 90% of the time nothing is said about date rape. It’s just brushed off as drunken antics at a party or a misunderstanding. This situation occurs thousands of times every year, on every campus across the country.

So now that this stage has been set and you’re getting ready to send your child off to school, what are you going to say and how can you lay out the facts in such a way as to not totally ruin the experience of heading off to school? When it comes right down to it…

These are the six things you need to make sure that your kids understand

The only sure way to prevent a miscarriage of justice is to prevent the crime. When alcohol and young people mix, situations can easily get out of hand. Your judgement goes downhill and so does your perception and then before you see anything coming- you have a mess on your hands.

If you’re out with a guy and the little voice in your head tells you that something isn’t right, remember that no means no. Tell the person very clearly to stop and leave immediately. It doesn’t matter if you’re wrong and you create some hurt feelings. If you’ve misread the situation nothing will go as wrong as if you’ve read it right.

Many women who have become involved with abusive partners were are first almost literally swept off their feet. The guys were charming and attentive, but on closer examination they were also jealous, protective and controlling. If you feel that a new relationship is moving too fast - then it is.

Never abandon a friend who has had too much to drink. There will always be other opportunities and social gatherings. As difficult as it may be, leave with her and get her back to a safe location.

Never go to parties or drinking alone. Always go with a friend you can trust not to leave you alone if you get too intoxicated.

A college campus isn’t filled only with people like the friends you grew up with. Seemingly “good people” can do terrible things. Remember that trust is something to be earned, not given away. Don’t be a victim.