“I usually walk by myself, but there were a couple of sexual assaults recently I’ve heard about,” the applied engineering science sophomore said.

As a result, Abdikalikova changed her routine late Tuesday night when she left the Main Library to return to Brody Complex, choosing to employ volunteers from State Walk.

State Walk, a free program offered by members of the nongreek coed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, has had a slight increase in the number of students being escorted to dorms, cars and other campus locations.

In the past four weeks, MSU police have responded to four assaults of female students, three of which may be related.

MSU police said Wednesday that the first reported assault is not related to the other three. The incident was reported by a 19-year-old female student, who said she was grabbed from behind Oct. 14 on the trail between Jenison Field House and the Kellogg Center.

In response to the attacks, MSU police have stepped up foot and motor vehicle patrol in certain areas on campus, including the locations of the three assaults.

Following the incidents, several campus groups have seen their services employed more often by students in recent weeks.

“More than anything, (the assaults) have decreased the fear about asking for walks,” State Walk co-chairman and biological science senior Sam Rossman said. “It’s motivated people to take action.”

From their base at the Main Library, volunteers from State Walk accompany about 20 students to campus locations on an average week.

Rossman said he wants more students to feel comfortable asking for a walking escort during the night.

“It’s not awkward for us. We’re trying to make it more relaxed,” he said. “I’ve never walked somebody home where neither of us have said a word to each other.”

As a female student, communication and public relations senior and State Walk volunteer Christine Lockwood said she can relate to students’ anxiety about campus safety.

“I know that as a girl on this campus, I understand that there’s a need for this,” Lockwood said. “It’s nice to give people the peace of mind at night.”

Campus and local self-defense classes typically offered throughout the year have seen a slight increase in attendance as well.

Mike Sheffield, president of Fight ‘n’ Rhythm, a free, on-campus self defense class, said he’s led three programs outside his weekly session at IM Sports-East and is planning on hosting a fourth in the next two weeks.

“We’ve been recently getting a lot from mentors, black caucuses, hall governments, all of those other student organizations,” Sheffield said.

The program involves a hybrid of fitness and self-defense tactics, Sheffield said.

While the reported assaults have gained attention on campus, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said students shouldn’t panic when they hear news of attacks.

“We don’t have a crime wave taking place,” McGlothian-Taylor said.

“The difference this year is that we’re using technology to get the information out there to the students.”