Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is a perfectly safe campus. Ohio State is in the city, and crime happens. This is the crime reported for the campus area for the week ending 9/3/17:
Friday, 9/1/17 in the morning, a student walking on campus was threatened with a gun. https://dps.osu.edu/psn
Friday, 9/1/17 in the afternoon, a student shopping at the Kroger near campus was threatened by a man who said he had a gun and claimed to be campus security.
I don’t think anybody is trying to fool anybody about crime on and near campus. The university does take student safety very seriously and that can’t be done if students are oblivious. They are very good about using the app to keep students apprised of crime and The Lantern has an entire easy to find, promoted section to keep students aware of current crime patterns. https://www.thelantern.com/category/campus/crime/ As a mom, during last year’s ‘incident’ on campus I could not believe my sense of ease as things were unfolding despite limited information which was based entirely on my confidence that campus police were well trained, professional and prepared so that whatever the university response would be, it would be the best anyone could do. Thank you, again Officer Horujko and all the others that work together every day doing the best they can to keep campus safe.
I agree, as a parent of a student at OSU I don’t think they are trying to fool anyone. I have signed up for their alerts and was aware of all of the incidents you noted in your OP. I live outside of Philly so we had a lot of coverage about a Temple University student who was murdered recently. It’s tragic and sad but also an unfortunate reality that college students can become victims of crime.
The only people who think OSU’s campus is unsafe are the people who moved there from the podunk countryside where nothing happens. And even then, I bet your opioid crisis is worse than it is in Columbus.
The police notifications do not cover sexual assault and coercion that happens on and off campus. That’s a safety issue too. Check out the most recent campus climate :
“One in five undergraduate female respondents to the 2017 survey reported being victim to nonconsensual sexual intercourse or touching by force, threats of physical force or incapacitation.”
I am the mother of three recent graduates and OSU knows exactly what is going on and where some of it it is happening (certain fraternities are well known to promote this) but does nothing. Don’t fool yourself like I did.