Crime on Campus

Colleges and Universities A-Z Franklin & Marshall College
1

<p>I realize this is a terrible subject but in light of something that just happened on my campus (Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA) I thought that students considering coming here should know. Crime in this area is a major problem, and now it seems after today we can't even feel safe walking to class in the most heavily traveled part of campus in the middle of the afternoon. We just received this email from the school:</p>

<p>Dear Members of the Campus Community,</p>

<p>Today, January 22, 2010, two Franklin & Marshall College students reported being robbed in separate incidents on or near campus. At no time was a weapon shown or threatened, and no physical violence was used against either victim.</p>

<p>The first incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on campus, near the entrance of Jazzman's Cafe. The second incident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. near the corner of West James Street and Lancaster Avenue.</p>

<p>During both incidents the victims were approached by three males, who demanded their personal belongings and threatened bodily harm. The victims responded in an appropriate manner by offering their iPods, cell phones and an undetermined amount of money.</p>

<p>The victims described the first perpetrator as being an African American male between the ages of 18 and 25, 6'2"with a thin build, clean shaven and wearing a black zipper "hoodie" with dark jeans. The second perpetrator was an African American male approximately 25 years of age, 5' 10" with a stocky build, a full beard and wearing a blue "hoodie" with blue jeans. The third perpetrator was an African American male between the ages of 18 and 25 with no further description.</p>

<p>Everyone is terrified and angry that we don't even have the right to feel safe in the middle of campus during the afternoons when we're trying to get to class. Honestly, things like this happen all the time here. My freshman year a male student was shot a block off campus when he refused to give up his money.Just last week a woman in her early 20s (not a student) was found raped and beaten just off campus. The area surrounding campus is a ghetto and they consider us prime targets. I just feel so violated by this that I thought other people should know so you have all the information when making your decision on where to attend. Sorry for the rant.</p>

2

<p>What is the school doing about this issue?</p>

3

<p>They said they are increasing public safety presence around campus (they already are almost everywhere walking around or on bikes) but its not really making anyone feel any better. There is almost nothing they can do, its hard to tell students not to walk to class in the middle of the day. I guess they are just trying to tell students to be extra-aware and cooperate with anyone who tries to rob them.</p>

4

<p>They apprehended one of the suspects and nothing has happened since. None of my friends here have voiced any concerns over safety. There is a shuttle service at night too, so you don’t have to walk on the street.</p>

5

<p>Any updates/recent news on this crime situation?</p>

6

<p>Fummer10, while I understand where you’re coming from, I don’t think this is the most appropriate place to take your anger. I think that incidents like this are (unfortunately) typical at institutions close to city centers and I do not believe that F&M is particularly unsafe at all, nor do I believe that the recent and unusual frequency of crime has been a result of any sort of failure on the part of the school. There are blue emergency lights dotting the entire campus, public safety circles the campus (and the off-campus areas where students live) on bikes, by foot, and in police cars constantly, and there are nightly shuttles that exist just to carry students 2 blocks down the street. I’d say that almost the entire student population lives within .25 miles of the campus and the administration does everything in its power to make us feel safe. I’m a female living off campus this year and I very rarely feel concerned about safety… if you are thinking about coming here (which I think you should!!), my opinion is that you should not let safety be a prime concern.</p>