Stanford University - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Students are overwhelmingly satisfied with the level of campus safety. Given the huge size and isolated nature of campus, it is rare that outsiders venture here at night. The police forces are adequate, and they do a good job of patrolling. It is so safe that students feel at ease when walking or biking around late at night. Students may even leave their dorm rooms unlocked without any problems. The only crime that occurs frequently is bike theft. Sometimes—especially during move-in and move-out periods—there can be more serious theft from dorms, including laptops and other expensive electronics, but this is easily avoided by locking your door.

Though often viewed as a bad thing, the Stanford “bubble” phenomenon does create a very safe and secure environment. If you’re at a campus party, you can safely stumble back home. If you’re 21, you don’t even have to worry about carrying alcohol, as the current University policy does not have an open-container rule. It is true that a large number of the blue safety lights have been out of order for a while, but these are rarely used. Chances are, you will have a cell-phone anyway. The only noteworthy crimes that have occurred on campus recently are a series of “bike-by” groping incidents. Aside from this, Stanford has very few problems of this nature. So just keep your bike and laptop securely locked, and you probably won’t be the victim of any serious crime at Stanford.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

I feel very safe on campus. Campus... I feel very safe on campus. Campus is like a happy little bubble. Recently, there was a report of an assault on campus, but I have never experienced anything like that personally. Generally, the biggest thing we have to worry about is high school kids skateboarding around campus and trying to sneak into our frat parties. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Bike theft is the biggest issue,... Bike theft is the biggest issue, but the key is to ride a really old one that no one wants, and then you won’t have to deal with that. I’ve also heard of people getting their laptops stolen out of their dorm rooms, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I have felt so safe at Stanford.... I have felt so safe at Stanford. Granted, I don’t walk around all the time at night in dark areas by myself, because I’ll either bike or be with other people. I’ve never had anything stolen, and I never had anything bad happen to me or to a friend. Some people will leave all their books and their laptop at the library for hours while they go eat, and no one takes their stuff. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Campus is perfectly safe. I have... Campus is perfectly safe. I have been out running numerous times past midnight, and I never felt any concern for my safety. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I would say that Stanford is a... I would say that Stanford is a relatively safe campus, but the few visible safety mechanisms available are not really up-to-snuff. For example, many of the blue emergency telephones scattered on campus are out of order, which can be kind of scary on a campus this large. All in all, though, I feel really safe at Stanford. 12345 Safety & Security Report

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