San Diego State University has more than 38,000 students enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

It’s no doubt that the notable surge in student enrollment is exciting for the university and those who attend. It offers more opportunity for networking, friendships and a larger support system. However, it also presents several more challenges regarding students’ safety.

“I feel pretty safe most of the time but am concerned with the homeless people on the streets at night or other non-students roaming freely,” SDSU senior Antonin Combrie (top left photo) said.

Students, particularly the female student population, have voiced concerns about how their safety is more at risk on campus during the night. Though frequently walking in groups, they still don’t feel completely safe on their walks home.

“At night is a different story,” SDSU senior Nadia Chopoff (middle photo) said. “I do not feel safe at night. I have experienced unsafe situations at night and now will never walk alone more than a block at night.”

“Whenever I am on campus I feel pretty safe but the minute I step off I raise my guard a bit more, especially at night time,” SDSU senior Moraya Drayton (right photo) added. “I have had some instances of catcalling so I am always aware of who is around me.”

Combrie went on to note, “If I were a woman I’d be more concerned than what I am right now but I suggest that regardless of the gender, people should walk home at least in pairs at these times of the night.”

Putting safety protocols in place for everyone

So what’s the school doing to combat these obstacles and create a safe, secure environment for students to thrive?

In addition to the university police squad, there is also the presence of the San Diego Police Department on campus to limit the occurrence of crime at the start of the school year. This increased engagement allows for students to visualize the law enforcement presence on campus and give them more contact points if they need assistance or escorts.

“We actually have officers that are on foot patrol and bicycle patrol, so that way they can kind of see us out in the community,” San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) Lieutenant Ron Flores said.

The university has a designated SDSU Safe app with several tools and resources for students to use. From maps to help them navigate campus to the Red & Black Safe Ride Program, the campus’ exclusive rideshare option, there are many options for students to look for if they’re feeling lost or unsafe on campus.

“When it comes to rideshares, I feel somewhat comfortable,” Chopoff said. “I usually do Uber alone from airports and back home but I would feel a little uncomfortable if I had to at night alone.”

The Red & Black Safe Ride program has multiple pick-up and drop-off locations on campus for students to go to if they need to be accompanied. This service is available on weekdays from 7 p.m. to midnight.

The SDSU Safe app also offers safety education and self-defense training led by volunteers of the community to reduce risk and raise awareness amongst the student population.

For those who want to report suspicious behavior on campus, there is an anonymous tip option on the app as well, at least for less urgent matters. The university police department advises students to call 911 in the case of an emergency.

“Pay attention to what’s around you, because you never know what can come up on you or anything like that,” Flores said. “And we want to make sure that we’re empowering the students to feel that they can actually contact the police department when they see something.”

Students themselves play a huge role in the overall feeling of safety on campus.

There are several ways to prepare students for potentially dangerous situations and they are encouraged to be proactive instead of reactive, especially when walking alone, and to utilize the patrol resources available to them through the university.

“The biggest one that we see all the time is people on their cell phones and not paying attention to their surroundings, and they’re just so engaged in their cell phone and not looking at what’s around them,” Flores remarked.

“I just want to make sure that everybody; it’s not just the police department’s responsibility for the safety of our campus,” Flores went on to say. “I like to say everyone is a safety person here in our committee.”

As a student at SDSU, do you feel safe in your environment?

Top photo credit: Natali Gonzalez