Protect Our Students
from the Hidden Dangers in Today’s Changing World

Petition for a Nationally Mandated Safety & Awareness Program for All Incoming College Students

We, the undersigned, demand immediate action to protect young people, especially young women, from the growing and often unseen dangers they face in today’s world.

Every year, thousands of college students are harmed, manipulated, or even killed due to situations that could have been avoided with education, awareness, and preparation. We believe that proactive prevention saves lives, and we are calling on lawmakers, educators, and college administrators across the country to mandate a comprehensive safety education program for every incoming student, before tragedy strikes again.

Why This Matters

The truth is terrifying:
• Young adults ages 18–24 are three to four times more likely to become victims of violence, manipulation, drug-facilitated crimes, and human trafficking than adults.
• Since 2020, teen and young adult death rates have increased dramatically due to unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide.
• Many victims, like Baylie and Gabby, were smart, kind, and cautious. But they weren’t armed with the knowledge to recognize danger before it was too late.
• Students are asking for help. They are telling us that not enough is being done to keep them safe, 85% feel unsafe.
This is not just about safety. It’s about survival.
Our Proposal

The creation and national rollout of a mandatory all-encompassing safety education program designed by parents and leading experts in trauma-informed care, law enforcement, mental health, counterterrorism, and victim advocacy. This program would be:
• Developed and led by nonprofits, including the Gabby Petito Foundation and Baylie’s Wish Foundation, in partnership with expert educators
• Centered on real-life stories, including those of Gabby and Baylie, along with many others, to humanize the risks and offer honest, engaging content
• Evidence-based and actionable, offering tools, resources, and strategies for danger prevention, self-protection, situational awareness, healthy relationship boundaries, risk recognition, and response.
• Delivered to all incoming college students, and parents as an orientation requirement or course module
We envision a program that doesn’t just check a box, but changes a mindset.
The Hidden Truths We Can No Longer Ignore

We’ve trusted that schools would protect our children. We now know that dangers like social media, sextortion, drugging, coercion, trafficking, dating violence, and manipulation are everywhere—and that young people are rarely prepared to spot or respond to them.
Baylie’s Story:
Baylie, a neuroscience major at the University of Miami, had dreams of medical school. One night, after accepting a ride-share, she encountered two young men who offered her drugged water and falsely claimed they were med students. Although she escaped the car, she was left disoriented and alone. She later wandered into traffic and, after six weeks, succumbed to her injuries. Her mother never imagined such danger was possible. She didn’t know what “roofied” meant. But today, it's tragically common. https://www.baylieswish.org
Gabby’s Story:
Gabby Petito's name has become a national symbol of the dangers of intimate partner violence. Her story sparked a movement, but too many others go unnoticed until it's too late. The Gabby Petito Foundation was founded to save others from the pain her family endured by turning awareness into action. https://gabbypetitofoundation.org

We Demand Action.

We call on:

Colleges and universities to adopt this training as a mandatory part of student orientation
State and federal lawmakers to fund and support this initiative nationwide
Parents and students to join our coalition and amplify this urgent need

Together, the Baylie’s Wish Foundation, and Gabby Petito Foundation, along with countless families say: Never Again.