Written by Sudarshan Gopaladesikan
Swarthmore is a relatively safe campus. Aside from a string of minor thefts on campus, there is a very low occurrence of crime at Swarthmore. Violent crime is virtually unheard of, and sexual assaults are practically nonexistent. However, the College could be safer in several respects. For example, if an intruder looks enough like a college student or guest, it would be easy for him or her to gain access to dorm buildings—the intruder can just wait until someone lets him or her in. Also, students often complain that the sidewalks are poorly lit and that there could be a few more emergency phones around campus.
Generally, Public Safety is there when you need them. At campus parties, Party Associates (PAs)—students trained by Public Safety officials—make sure everything runs smoothly. Any major incidents are reported to Public Safety officers. They will escort students to medical help, but they rarely report incidents to the police unless absolutely necessary. At the Worth Health Center, the availability of campus doctors, particularly on weekends and evenings, is a concern, mainly because this seems to be the time when students need them the most. However, the Center does have a distinctly friendly, homey feel that takes some of the edge off of being sick at school. The Health Center is particularly interested in an all too common Swarthmore affliction—stress. In addition to several alternative therapies, the Center offers psychological services to all students, including an on-call psychiatrist.