Oberlin College - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Perhaps because Oberlin is such a small town, people tend to take for granted that serious crimes rarely ever happen. Still, the College’s Of?ce of Safety and Security has done everything possible to ensure that the campus is extremely safe. Emergency phones are attached to blue-light posts all around campus, and the Student Shuttle System allows students who feel either unsafe to walk or too inebriated to drive from running into trouble. Most female students attest to feeling very safe when they walk across campus late at night, especially because all paths and streets tend to be well lit and free of bushes or trees. All dorms require ID cards to enter, and as a result of the general feeling of security, many students don’t always feel the need to lock their doors.

One of the main problems that occurs on campus is theft, mostly in places like Mudd Library or Wilder Bowl, where students often leave their belongings unattended for long periods of time. Safety and Security of?cers generally do a very good job of tracking down stolen items and, for the most part, students tend not to steal from other students. Even so, Safety and Security encourages students to register their bicycles with the school in case they are stolen, and then turn up a week later in the town creek—which has been known to happen before.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Generally, the campus feels very... Generally, the campus feels very safe. Most paths and streets are well lit, there are over 60 emergency phone booths spread all over campus, and if you’re still not feeling safe, you can take a free shuttle back to your dorm or house. I’m female, and I walk across campus alone at night all the time without feeling the least bit insecure. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Occasionally, a laptop or a... Occasionally, a laptop or a bicycle is stolen, but people often leave their doors unlocked. All the security guys are super hot, and I want to marry them all! 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I’ve never had a problem where I... I’ve never had a problem where I needed to call security, so I would say safety and security is pretty good. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

My only experience with campus... My only experience with campus safety comes from climbing up onto the roofs of various Oberlin College buildings. They seemed pretty chill when I met them, though. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

As a girl, I walk alone at two in... As a girl, I walk alone at two in the morning sometimes; it’s really quite safe. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

Professor James Walsh, Professor of Sociology at Oberlin College, was once also the District Attorney for the town of Oberlin. So watch what you do in his courtroom!

One of the most serious crimes in recent times at Oberlin was when a college student hoisted a heavy womb chair out of Mudd Library, rappelled it over the roof of the building, and dragged the valuable piece of vintage furniture off campus. Unfortunately for him, the student was caught, and the college has since cracked down on womb chair theft.

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