UPD Responds to Campus Safety Concerns
Claire Crosbie, Staff Reporter
Claire_Crosbie@csumb.edu
The recent buzz about crime at
CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
has left students finding it difficult
to feel safe. Many CSUMB
students have high concerns about
becoming a victim of crime, and are
questioning the extent authorities
will go to protect them.
Riana Hardin, a Human
Communication sophomore said,
“the campus is safe, but it is not
the safest it can be.” Students
like Hardin have agreed that the
campus could make improvements
in order for residents to feel safer,
including simple enhancements,
such as additional lighting and
improved walkways.
Some students at CSUMB are
uninformed about the different
types of tools obtainable to them.
When asked about the emergency
call boxes or “blue lights,” only
a few students knew the purpose
behind them or that they are even
present here on this campus.
Besides physical tools available
in times of emergencies, students
would like information and
knowledge of their existence.
Global Studies Junior Theresa
Eckert was one of the few
students who knew what and
where emergency call boxes are
located, but she still believed
that more information should be
made available to students so that
they are better prepared for any
scenarios that come their way.
According to Eckert, it would be
pointless to provide resources of
safety and not educate students
on their function and how they
can be accommodating. She also
suggested that one way to make
students feel more comfortable is
for campus officers to have greater
presence on campus at any hour.
Although there have been
many complaints, students of
CSUMB might find it surprising
that improvements for safety are
actually in progress. “CSUMB is a
safe campus,” said Lieutenant Earl
Lawson of the University Police
Department (UPD) after hearing
of students’ safety concerns for this
campus. Lawson also suggested
crime on campus always occurs
and it is up to students to be
conscious and take responsibilities
for their safety. Although the
CSUMB campus is very different
from other universities because it
is small in size and number of
students, it is vital for all students
to take precautions. Lawson also
explained that in time the CSUMB
campus would be transformed into
a “walking” campus.
Christina Molthen, Liberal
Studies junior said, “yes, a walking
campus would be a great idea from
an environmental stand point, but
it would not be that way from a
safety point of view.”
Lawson also shared that some
plans for improvement are
already in the making, such as
the transformation of the path
in the ice plant into an actual
walkway leading to parking lot
28 (across from building 47 and
next to the World Theater). Also
in the making are plans for an
additional “blue light” at the end
of the parking lot for emergency
circumstances, while additional
plans to accommodate student
needs are being discussed as well.
Officers are going out personally
on different occasions to seek
further safety enhancements, as
well as testing out helpful tools
such as the emergency call boxes
located throughout the campus.
Lawson wants the CSUMB
student body to know that safety
is a concern to the campus police
and it is constantly on their minds
as well.
Since students will eventually
have to walk alone in the dark at
some point in their college career,
it is very important for the student
body to know the precautions and
tools to reach safety. The first line
for student defense is the emergency
call box. While many students are
not knowledgeable of the precise
function or location of the blue
lights, the emergency call box
marked by a blue light is available
for students in case of emergencies.
To use the call box students simply
need to push the button and the box
automatically alerts authorities of
your exact location.
Night Walk, where students will
be escorted to their destination, offers
additional assistance that students
may find to be useful to their comfort
level. It is available Monday through
Friday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. by
calling 831-582-3573.