Safety in the University Campus - Research Paper Example

Safety in the University Campus Level 1 Heading: Introduction It is the role of the university administration to ensure the safety of the students, the teaching and non-teaching staff. Safety of people in the campus should be the priority of the campus administration to provide a conducive learning environment. A safe environment is necessary as it would motivate the workers in the institutions. The fact that institutions of higher learning are large and consist of people with diverse backgrounds, these attributes of the institutions present a myriad of security challenges. There are various forms of safety that should be considered when looking at this crucial topic. They include safety from environmental hazards, physical violence, sexual harassment and fires among others. This paper will analyze the issues surrounding safety in the campus. This will be done by looking at the current state of affairs regarding the topic then come up with some recommendations that would help improve the situation going forward. This will be important since it will provide a comprehensive way of dealing with this vital topic. Since 1980’s, there has been a growing concern over the safety of students in postsecondary institutions (Ferris, Laure 78). These institutions had since time immemorial been considered safe areas where students could focus exclusively on their studies. However, a series of violent crimes and increased reports and complaints of sexual violence in these institutions changed the perception. This led to the drafting of the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act (Public Law 101-542) that was then signed to law in 1990. One of the constituents of the Act is Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 that directly requires institutions of higher learning to provide information on the various crimes that take place in their campuses. The Act also requires the institutions to publish an annual security report that provides statistics on the occurrence of various criminal offences that were reported to the campus officials. The campuses are also required to include statements on campus security education as well as sexual assault education and prevention programs. The legislation of these requirements underscores the importance and the weight of the issue of security in campuses (Ferris, Laure 109). While the Act looks at the crimes that are reported, it is important to understand that there are other crimes that go unreported. Campuses should, therefore, look for innovative ways to prevent the occurrence of such crimes and to help the victims of the same. Globally, there has been a rise on the need to step up security enforcement in institutions of higher learning (Vera 190). These academic institutions are vulnerable targets to individuals and organizations that would want to instill fear for unjustifiable causes. The presence of troubled students who might be having psychological problems due to drug abuse also pose a security threat to other students. There is, therefore, a need to identify the causes of insecurity in campuses. Level 2 Heading: Causes of Insecurity There are various factors that have led in the rise in insecurity in institutions of higher learning. While most are actions perpetrated by students on other students and the staff, some have resulted from the lack of more stringent security measures by the institutions. The following are some of the factors that have been pointed out as the causes behind the cases of insecurity in the campuses. Drug and Substance Abuse The use of alcohol and other illegal drugs and substances is rampant in campuses. Alcohol has been singled out as one of the most widely abused drug in institutions of higher learning. After consumption of alcohol, the judgment of the user is altered thus are prone to committing crimes. Reports that have been written after investigation into sexual harassment have pin pointed the use of drugs as a major promoter of the vice. There have been reported cases where persons have been poisoned by either lacing their food or drinks with drugs and thereafter either suffered theft of their possessions or have been sexually assaulted. Increased usage of illegal substances and trade in the learning institutions has also contributed to violence. Some of the drug users have no means of income to fund their addiction since the drugs are expensive. They result to stealing and committing robberies so as to get the required monies to finance their addictions. It is, therefore, important for the various stakeholders in the higher learning institutions to look for ways of dealing with this menace. Negative Impact of Television Shows The spate of violence being witnessed in campuses is, unfortunately, being inspired by the proliferation of violent movies and television shows. These programs have negatively impacted teenagers and young adults who have gone ahead to replicate what they see on the screens on to their fellow students and teachers. For example according to the CNN website, there were 44 reported school shootings in the U.S in 14months for the period between December 2012 and February 2014. Studies have shown that such student murders were in one way or another triggered by violent television shows and music. It was found that at least a third of the shootings resulted after an altercation between students heightened. The students then resulted to use of violence to solve their misunderstandings. The impact of television and music to students and young adults in general should, therefore, be researched upon, and corrective measures adopted. Failure of the government to supervise what is aired in the television screens may lead to increased cases of violence in the institutions of higher learning. Campaigns should be undertaken to sensitize parents to adopt regulative measures on the content that their children watch so that they do not watch programs that might instill improper values to the children. Easy Access to Fire Arms Of the 44 shooting cases that took place between the periods mentioned above, 36% took place in college and university campuses (CNN website). Most of the perpetrators of the shootings revealed they had easy access to the guns that they used. It was found that most had easy access to the firearms from home. This is a worrying concern since the ease to access and possess fire arms illegally is directly linked to increased rate of crime. While this may in part reflect the failure of proper parenting, the college and university administrations should be put to task for failing to unsure they detect the possession of the weapons in their premises. The learning institutions should install more effective security gadgets that would detect students or anyone who would be having fire arms in school. Inadequate Security Personnel on the Campus Another factor that has promoted the Increase in the crime rates in campuses is the inadequate number of security personnel in the campus premises. Theses shortfall in the number of security personnel has encouraged crime since the suspects know they can easily get away with their crimes. The failure of adequate patrols and surveillance systems in the campus has further led to the deterioration of security. Due to this, incidents including suicide, murder have been reported with a greater number still going unreported. Violent robberies of mobile phones, laptops, cameras among other electronic gadgets have been reported to be stolen from the student’s residence halls. There are also been cases of vandalization of infrastructure on the campus. The campus should thus have security personnel who are employed on a permanent basis to maintain security. An increased number of security personnel and efficient communication and transportation means would go a long way into reducing the cases of insecurity in the campuses. Lack of Surveillance Equipment Due to the large nature of campuses, it may not be possible to have security personnel present in every corner of the institution. The campus can however install CCTV surveillance cameras in strategic positions and have some security personnel observe then from one station. In the case of any incident, officers are sent to check out the incident. Not only would such a measure be more efficient in countering security threats, but it would also provide evidence against crime perpetrators. This would ensure appropriate punishment is taken on them based on the acquired evidence. The cameras would also discourage students from engaging in criminal activities. The use of cameras should be particularly used in parking lots around the campus so as to deal with the theft of car parts and whole vehicles. However, there are various measures that can be taken to mitigate the issue of insecurity in campuses. The following are some of the recommendations that can be adopted to counter the insecurity in the institutions of higher learning. Officials tasked with maintaining security in the campus should work with various stakeholders in the campus to ensure a safe environment in and around the campus premises. Everyone should be involved in the process so as to create a culture of safety in the campus. The campus law enforcers should be tasked with conducting frequent patrols, crime prevention measures, conducting of investigations as well as responding to emergencies. Proper mechanisms should be put in place to ensure the students and members of the staff who live and operate from the surrounding neighborhoods receive proper security. The measures taken should however not mean to inhibit the freedom of free expression and healthy debates. Institutions of higher learning should perverse their identity as a society of a free and democratic society (Vera 206). Cyber crime is a growing vice that is gaining popularity in campuses. These are crimes that are enabled by the use of information technology and including threaten, cyber bullying, online threats and harassment. Unwanted solicitation of sexual favors is also classified in this category of crime. Tough action should be taken against employees who engage in such activities. Institutions of higher learning should create departments that should investigate such claims so that lawful action can be taken against the perpetrators. Stealing of data from other people is also a form of insecurity where some students secretly acquire personal information from others and use it for blackmail. Campuses should device ways of dealing with criminal offenders. While dealing with the subjects, the administration should not sorely rely on expulsion to deal with them. Expulsion of students who are found as to being guilty of criminal activities in the campus should be undertaken as a last option. This is because some of the offenders have psychological problems which might need professional care. Strict measures should however be adopted so as to deter potential criminals from engaging in those crimes. Counseling departments to deal with victims of sexual assaults should be established. The victims should also be encouraged to report the incidents as soon as possible. Appropriate officials who are well trained on guidance and counseling should be designated the task of dealing with those cases and should ensure total confidentiality of the information they receive. Investigations into matters of sexual assault should be launched as soon as possible so that offenders are arrested, and legal action taken against them. Prompt reporting of sexual assault cases should be encouraged to the students to ensure evidence is preserved. Counseling programs that are aimed at providing support to sexual violence and assault victims should be put in place, and appropriate guidance given so as to facilitate quick physical and mental recovery. The use of information technology should be harnessed as to provide avenues where students can acquire information of an oncoming threat on time. The university administration through the student unions and programs should create avenues where the students can use information technology to pass on important information that may deter crime from occurring. Institutions of higher learning should not work in isolation in their efforts to mitigate security risks. There should be a joint effort from various stakeholders to ensure campuses are made safer. Campuses should invest in emergency management and be prepared from all sorts of any type of potential threats. Conducting frequent fire drills to equip the students and staff with knowledge on how to react to fire cases would be important so as to reduce the risk of injury and death in case of fire. The learning of first aid skills would also be crucial so as to increase the chances of survival by accident victims in the case of occurrence of such incidents. The campus administration should ensure proper lighting all around the campus. Installation of proper lighting systems would make walking at night safer and drastically reduce the occurrence of night attacks. It should however be understood that the role of ensuring security is majorly reliant on the individual students. This is because they have the ability to determine who they associate with and the places they frequent at various times. Being keen and self-aware are some of the ways one can ensure their personal safety. Being self-aware of the environment in which they are might help them notice unusual people or activities and thus get out of harms way. Students should also be advised to follow their instincts and should call help lines in cases where they feel they are in danger. The campus should, therefore, have emergency help lines that students can call for help. The students should also avoid walking alone in the dark and should try to stay in well-lit areas and use routes that are used by many people. It is also up to the students to set privacy limits by limiting the amount of personal information that they share on social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter. Providing sensitive and personal information may grant stalkers and sexual perverse individuals crucial information to enable them follow and conduct their vices. Students should also be advised to let a friend know where they are or the time they expect to get back. Tracing of an individual in case of an incident is made easier by such simple habits. Conclusion From the analysis above, it's clear that universities are no longer the safe havens they were thought to be many years ago. Currently, there are many factors that have led to increased insecurity in the institutions of higher learning, and this has necessitated the need to adopt preventively as well as counter measures to ensure security is maintained. The threat of insecurity in the institutions of higher learning rage from small cases of stealing of bikes to threats of terrorism attacks. The government through the administration of these institutions should thus employ various systems to ensure intelligence is gathered and reacted upon to mitigate the occurrence of such threats. Psychological problems are some of the major causes of some forms of violence such as sexual violence and assaults are reflected a deeper problem in our current society. More research and input from the government is necessary to ensure the underlying issues are solved. By identifying the root causes of these problems, the chance of ensuring security in the institutions of higher learning are enhanced. When this is done, students will have better concentration and thus be more effective in their studies and other co-curricular activities that they are supposed to engage in. Works cited Farris. E, Laure. L. "Campus Crime and Security at Postsecondary Education Institutions." U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. 1997: NCES 97-402. Jelinek, Vera. " Higher Learning Institutions and Global Citizen Education." December 2013: Vol. L No. 4 http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/11/us/school-shootings-cnn-number/ http://3gbwir1ummda16xrhf4do9d21bsx.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp content/uploads/2014/04/SchoolShootingsReport1.pdf http://www1.umn.edu/police/docs/clerybroch.pdf Read More