Grinnell CollegeHealth & Safety Summary

Written by Akshay Bajaj

Akshay Bajaj

Hometown

Mumbai, India

Major

Economics

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The security department at Grinnell is pretty small and inactive, but there’s not much of a reason for it to exist. Violent crime on campus is unheard of, and Grinnell’s self-governance policy means that security guards are discouraged from poking around in students' lives; it is students themselves that are responsible for settling minor disputes. Their main job requirements seem to be opening dorm rooms for people who accidentally lock themselves out and looking up phone numbers for people who call the office. The campus is on 24-hour lockdown, which means that you need your Pioneer One-Card to gain entrance into any dorm. When security is relaxed, the buildings are open to anyone before 10 p.m. For people who are afraid to walk home at night, the security department provides student volunteers to escort anyone to their chosen destination.

In the way of health services, Grinnell has a large number of students who are diagnosed with depression or other mental health issues on campus. Administration is set on providing more ways for Grinnellians to cope with mental problems, including walk-in counseling sessions, a mental health forum that meets regularly, and eight free sessions with a psychiatrist each year. Also, the athletic health department has some excellent physiotherapists that are committed to helping anyone suffering from an athletic injury.