John Vinson on the Challenges of Keeping Universities Safe

Campus safety and security is a matter of increasing concern for Reno residents. While Reno campuses have excellent safety statistics, students and families should take a common-sense approach to ensure their safety. Keeping a campus safe has many difficulties and challenges. John Vinson, a campus and community safety professional, explains the reasons why ensuring campus safety is difficult and offers tips for students and others who want to be safe on campus.

1. Colleges Attract a Wide Range of Visitors

Colleges and universities are frequented not only by the students but also by the community as a whole. They may be honest citizens who only want to use the campus facilities or enjoy the landscaping and public areas, or they may be bad actors who want to prey on students and staff. In addition, students themselves may be criminals, performing such acts as property crimes, drug abuse and distribution, and assault. Campus security personnel have the unenviable task of sorting out which people are there with ill intent.

2. Students Often Let Their Guard Down

While many students are sensible about protecting themselves and their personal property, many others are naive and treat the entire campus as if they were sitting in their parents’ living room. Some are careless with their belongings, frequently leaving them outside public areas, and they do not take their personal safety into consideration. Students make the mistake of believing that school staff should be acting as a parent protecting the student, while in fact, the students are responsible for their own safety. Young college students need to be educated with the basics of “street smarts” and need to understand that campus is an area where crimes can happen.

3. Campuses Are Open 24/7

Campuses in Reno are always open, and there is always a chance that a crime will occur. Students are known to participate in parties with alcohol and drug use, and when they are impaired, they are more likely to be victims of crime. Students can also have medical problems after these parties, and they do not always have a sober companion to walk them home. Campus law enforcement and/or security departments may help with this problem sometimes, but they can’t be there for everyone due to staffing considerations.

4. Doors Left Unlocked

Though most residence hall buildings are kept locked in this day and age, most other campus buildings are not. This opens up an avenue for criminals to have contact with students and their belongings. Students should always lock their residence hall room doors. This alone can significantly reduce a great number of property crimes and assaults from occurring.

5. Campuses are Large

Even relatively small colleges and universities often have sprawling grounds. Campus law enforcement and security officers are often on foot, but they also use Segways, bicycles, and cars. The size of many college campuses means that more law enforcement and security professionals may need to be hired. CCTV is another useful asset in the fight against campus crime.

6. The Possibility of Gun Crimes

In today’s environment, many students, faculty, and family members are nervous about gun use. Campuses need to have robust security plans in place to deal with possible active shooter situations. Campus law enforcement professionals should be armed to protect students and faculty. Many campuses now have text and email alerts that go out whenever there is a general safety threat, meaning that many people can be kept out of public areas while the search is conducted. It is unknown how many lives this practice has saved, but it is a valuable tool for law enforcement and security professionals.

7. Drug Use and Abuse

Drug use is another vulnerability shared by many student populations. Drugs can cause serious health problems, especially overdoses. They can also be the cause of property crimes, assaults, and gun crimes on campus. Campus law enforcement and security needs to crack down on the drugs consumed and sold at colleges and universities. Too often, students believe they can consume drugs safely and without consequences at a college campus.

8. Widespread Alcohol Use

Another challenge faced by campus security, especially on the weekends, is alcohol use. Even in cases where students do not use cars to get around town, they can still run into problems when they are impaired. They may cross streets unsafely, or they may have episodes requiring medical attention. Underage alcohol use is a particular concern on campuses in Reno. All students need to be educated about the effects of alcohol and how abusing it can lead them to be vulnerable to crime.

Campus Challenges

John Vinson has presented campus security professionals with the opportunity to improve. With increased patrolling, surveillance, student education, and an increase in the number of armed police officers and/or other security professionals, schools can be kept safe. It is the goal of safety professionals to make sure that students conduct themselves safely without becoming paranoid. Students should be safe enough to enjoy their education, and if they are not, the onus falls on campus security to make sure that they feel secure.