Students must embrace safety

SLO Tribune 1/18/07

Although Cal Poly is justly regarded as one of the safest campuses within the California State University system, the sad reality is that crimes against student do occur — on campus and off.

Such was the case when two women were sexually assaulted on campus last year at this time. And, more recently, when four college-aged women were reportedly assaulted in separate late-night attacks near campus in mid-November and December. To date, there have been no arrests.

In an effort to ensure the late-night safety of its students, university police deserve credit for moving quickly in extending the hours of an escort van service for students who may be working late on campus and need a safe ride home.

The service now operates from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and serves 200 to 450 students a week, shuttling them anywhere on the college grounds to a half-mile off campus.

By and large, San Luis Obispo is known as a low-crime city. And, as noted, Cal Poly is statistically one of the safest campuses in the CSU system. Yet, predators do walk among us, and that’s why the university’s actions to ensure student safety by extending its escort van service make good sense.

We urge Cal Poly students to take advantage of this service and to be aware that even in a community with a good reputation for safety, it’s prudent to err on the side of caution where personal safety is concerned.