NCJ Number
168856
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 1996 Pages: 15-18-33
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This first of three articles on a multimethod study of campus safety at a four-year college describes students' overall feeling of safety, group differences in fears of victimization, and students' and others' knowledge and use of campus safety resources.
Abstract
The study was undertaken at a public, predominantly 4-year, liberal arts college that enrolled 5,061 undergraduates (57 percent women and 43 percent men). Sixteen undergraduate women conducted a multiple-method study of campus safety for course credit, with the assistance of two faculty members and one administrator. Survey, interview, and ethnographic data were collected between January and May 1994. A total of 217 students completed brief, anonymous, self-report surveys, which required only a few minutes to complete. Student-scientists completed lengthy, structured interviews with 24 additional undergraduates, eight faculty and staff members who were past or present members of the campus Public Safety Committee, and six public safety officers. Additional archival information was obtained during the summer and fall of 1994. Findings show that most students described their campus as safe, but women and activists in feminist, multicultural, ethnic minority, and lesbian-gay-bisexual advocacy groups were more fearful of being victimized than those who belonged to fraternities, sororities, and athletic teams. The college community's knowledge and use of the Office of Public Safety and other safety resources is described, along with recommendations for improving brochures and posters disseminated by the Office of Public Safety. 4 figures and 8 references