Smith CollegeHealth & Safety Summary

Written by Dara Kagan

Dara Kagan

Hometown

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Major

Government, with a minor in the Study of Women and Gender

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Students agree that although there is occasional crime on and around campus, they feel secure and are not concerned about their safety. In their houses, residents leave their toiletries and towels in the bathrooms and often leave their doors unlocked. However, this feeling of safety and security on campus can lead Smithies to take risks that they otherwise would not. For example, thefts have occurred when students left doors unlocked over the weekend or during house parties, and doors left propped open for people who forgot their keys have led to incidents in which random people have wandered into houses.

Although there are few security issues on campus, students still complain about Public Safety’s lack of efficiency. For example, one of Public Safety’s jobs is to drive students between two points on campus late at night, but many who call for this service say Public Safety has been reluctant to help and won’t drive a student unless that student says, point blank, “I don’t feel safe walking alone.” While there are officers patrolling the campus 24 hours, they are rarely seen, and students have also complained that lights are usually out on campus, making it difficult to see people and the sidewalk.