Southern Methodist University - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

SMU may boast a very safe campus; however, they should really say thank you to University Park. Even though University Park and SMU Police work together to patrol the city, SMU PD pays more attention to parking violations than a screaming girl whose hair is in flames. On the other hand, nothing too out of the ordinary ever occurs here on campus, so what else is there for them to do? It is quite rare to hear about SMU students being mugged at gunpoint. There have only been two incidents since I have been here, and both of them were off-campus. A friend of mine was raped when she was a freshman. So, if you receive warnings from anyone, especially if you are a female, it will probably pertain to rape. There are several minor thefts reported every year, but there is nothing to fear on this campus—except a parking ticket.

Most of the police force here are fairly friendly and do earnestly look out for you, especially if you are intoxicated. I hear more about alcohol violations than Sherlock Holmes murder mysteries. SMU has done a stellar job with the PR for their police force, and I definitely commend them for that. I have yet to see an SMU cop put to the test, though. So, that should really give you a good idea about the campus: it’s safe enough.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Safety was an issue on campus, but... Safety was an issue on campus, but I think it is getting better. The police department has taken a lot of heat, so I think they will do better in the future. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

They’re more worried about giving... They’re more worried about giving parking tickets than stopping people from getting on campus that shouldn’t be. I feel somewhat safe, but you always hear stories about people getting held up at gunpoint. It makes you look behind you when you’re walking at night. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I do not feel safe at night alone.... I do not feel safe at night alone. There have been violent attacks with little apparent police action. I travel in groups or by car. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Safety is good, even though there... Safety is good, even though there have been a few incidents over the years. They do not occur too often. Security is good, meaning that it doesn’t keep you down. You don’t see cops everywhere, but you know they are patrolling. That is pretty reassuring. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I think security is pretty good; I... I think security is pretty good; I always see SMU police driving around campus. However, there are a lot of places on campus that are not that well lit, which can be a little scary when walking back from a night class or back to your dorm/apartment. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

SMU recently created a program, “Giddy Up,” where students can call and have volunteer students come pick them up in a golf cart and get a safe ride home. This is to prevent students from driving under the influence. If you are intoxicated, don’t be afraid to simply call. 

SMU Rides is a new program where student organizations volunteer during the weekend to call cabs for students who are off campus and need a ride. The organization pays for the cab so that the student can gut back to campus free of charge.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Peter Goldschmidt
Hometown: Jefferson City, MO
Major: Financial Consulting

Peter likes to run marathons.

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