The recent break-ins and thefts have left students asking if Azusa Pacific University is becoming unsafe. I asked around to get some of the opinions from those who live on campus.
Within the past few weeks, the students at Azusa Pacific University have received four separate emails about burglary, thefts, and break-ins. The first email was about a car theft in the Shire Mods, the second was about a break-in at the TRIO offices, the third was a break-in at the nursing building, and the fourth was about a stolen scooter in the Mods.
Honestly, the amount of emails we get and how frequent they are puts me a little more on edge. We are supposed to feel comfortable and safe on campus, but the more emails we get, the more I question how safe we truly are.
The question is not just how safe the campus is but also how safe is the surrounding area. APU is an open campus, anyone can walk in. There are gates and fences, but how useful are they when they are easily accessible? They either do not lock or they are easily jumpable. It feels like the fences are just there for visual aesthetics.
Now, these are just my opinions and thoughts on the matter, but I wanted to see how other people who live on campus feel about the situation. I asked around and here is what people think.
Katie Ward, a junior, shares that while she does not feel more anxious, she feels more alert about the dangers that might happen. She thinks that the more they keep us updated the better, both with email and with paper notices. Ward has hope that Campus Safety will do its job well, and she has confidence in their ability and responsibility.
Margarita Fuentes, also a junior, feels that the recent warnings her awareness is heightened. As students, she thinks that we have to be more cautious in case another incident happens but she puts her faith in Campus Safety that they will monitor the campus ensuring the safety of all students and faculty.
Solomon Kato is a sophomore who feels that this recurring issue is really unfortunate and pretty concerning. He does not feel more on edge but he does believe that APU needs some stronger security. He also acknowledges that there are a fair amount of places around campus where anyone can get things stolen.
An anonymous student stated that when she first came to APU, she felt safe to be there. However, with the latest break-ins and burglaries, she feels the need to be more on her toes. She is more aware of her surroundings and ensures the doors are all locked. She also mentioned that Campus Safety takes a relatively long time to respond and that she cannot rely on them.
When reflecting on the past incidents, Daniel Medley, a junior, does not feel too unsafe but rather his interest has been peaked. He feels that walking around campus just feels a little more “sketchy.” He has a few friends in the nursing department, so he was concerned about them but also as an art major if someone broke in and stole or broke things in his studio he would be freaked out. “I am more alert and vigilant than I am anxious,” he said.
Whether or not these emails raise alarms or vigilance for you, it is something worth discussing. We live on this campus, there should be something that could be done to hopefully take steps to make it feel safer again.
I am putting trust in Campus Safety to come up with a plan that will make the students look over their shoulders less and feel more safe here.