Do California's College Students Feel Safe On Campus?

By The California Student Journalism Corps, EdSource

February 17, 2023

Members of the California Student Journalism Corps fanned out to ask students their thoughts about safety on their college campuses.

The question was left open to interpretation because “safety” could have a different meaning for each person; and while the Feb. 13 Michigan State University shooting had not yet happened when California students were interviewed, they were still reeling from January’s mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.

In addition, the issue of policing at colleges and universities remains a hot topic and focus area for organizations like Cops Off Campus, which has chapters at numerous California State University and University of California campuses.

Students at eight California campuses were asked, “As a student on this campus, do you have any personal safety concerns?” Some were asked a follow-up question: “Are you aware of any resources in place on your campus to address (your specific) safety issue?”

Below are their responses.

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EdSource works to engage Californians on key education challenges with the goal of enhancing learning success. It does so by providing timely, useful and accurate information to key education stakeholders and the larger public; advancing awareness of major education initiatives being implemented in California and nationally; and highlighting effective models and strategies intended to improve student outcomes, as well as identifying areas that are in need of repair or reform