Students and Faculty Express Unease About Safety on Campus at Rutgers University New Brunswick
In terms of safety, Rutgers is not as top-notch as it is for its learning excellence.
Recent concerns about safety on campus have left both students and faculty feeling uneasy.
Rutgers University of New Brunswick’s 2022 safety report revealed a consistent increase in rape and aggravated assault cases, with a total of 27 incidents reported in 2021.
The NY database.com stated that the number of criminal offenses at Rutgers University in New Brunswick was twice as high in 2019 as compared to the previous year, 2018.
Niche, a website that provides school information and reviews, gave Rutgers, New Brunswick a C+ in terms of safety based on various data, including government sources and millions of reviews.
Many students, particularly women, feel unsafe walking around campus, especially at night.
Allison Serido, a junior who lives on campus at college ave campus, takes advantage of every chance to enjoy life on her own and the convenience of being close to her classes.
While campus safety is a primary consideration for many students and parents, as Serido pointed out, living on campus may provide other benefits beyond safety concerns.
“Living on campus is extremely useful when you have big gaps between classes,” she said. “It’s enjoyable because you’re living on your own, which teaches you responsibility, and you’re close to various events.”
With all the convenience of living on campus, Allison Serido gets anxious, especially during the night time.
“I get worried especially when I hear random guys walking around my house and also in my backyard past midnight,” Serido said.
Mudassir Siddique, a junior commuter usually stays late on/near campus.
“Even though I may feel safe being alone on campus, I know that there may be occasions when I need to take extra measures, such as remaining in well-lit places, avoiding secluded regions, and being alert to any suspicious behavior, especially during the night by Easton ave,” Siddique said.
Adjunct Prof. Leslie Savan’s classes are normally held on one of Rutgers’s busiest campuses, college Ave.
“I am anxious and less likely to teach a class, particularly in the evenings,” Savan said.
Rutgers Prof. David Love confirms that the New Brunswick campus is generally safe for everyone, despite a few cases where staff questioned his status as a faculty member.
“As a Black man and a person of color, I’m constantly reminded that I am viewed as a possible threat, a criminal or an intruder who should not be allowed in a particular space,” he said.
Rutgers Police (RUPD) Lt. Stephen Acquaviva stated that the department uses various resources, such as vehicles, quads, bikes, and foot patrol, to patrol the campus. The public safety division also installed numerous cameras for monitoring and ensuring safety across the university.
“The Rutgers Police Department is currently recruiting future police officers,” Acquaviva said. “The Department will be offering preparatory workshops for our current hiring process to include interview and physical agility sessions.”
Allison also mentioned that their belongings inside the house are not safe anymore.
“Lots of our packages throughout these years have gone missing,” she said. “My personal valuables are not even protected in the house because we recently had a break in over spring break.”
Lt. Acquaviva shares that the Rutgers University Police Department has introduced the RAVE Guardian Platform as a measure to enhance campus safety in line with the University’s mission.
