San Diego State University (SDSU) is focusing greater attention on student safety this academic year, after several notable incidents following College Area parties.

Multiple approaches are being implemented by the University to reduce associated risks and enhance well-being. Students are being asked to share the vision of a safer experience on and off campus, and share the responsibility for success.

One of the incidents pointing to the need for increased safety measures is a sexual violence report by a minor who attended a 2021 Halloween party at a student rental on Rockford Drive.

Some former members of the SDSU football team have been accused of the alleged sexual assault. For the past year, the campus community and the community at-large have both been saying they are shocked, saddened, angered, and worried.

They’ve also been saying they want the University to be accountable and forthcoming. A plea that’s been emphasized repeatedly since the Los Angeles Times first reported the case in June, some seven months after University officials were notified of the allegations.

Since then, the University has sent several communications to the school community, each time believed to rationalize what many say was a lack of responsiveness to the reported victim, a lack of transparency with the school and community, lack of candor about disciplinary proceedings, and the absence of an internal investigation.

Now, one year after the reported sexual assault, campus community members have received a new communication about the current status of the case.

In an Oct. 5 letter emailed to students and staff, SDSU President Adela de la Torre attempted to provide an explanation and an update of events. She wrote, “To date, names of any suspects identified through the criminal investigation have not been publicly released, and there have been no arrests. We are also still awaiting action by the District Attorney, who will decide whether any suspects will be criminally charged.”

She acknowledged that SDSU delayed its own investigative process after several requests by SDPD asking the University to “stand down” to avoid any actions which could compromise the City’s investigation.

In the letter, de la Torre shared that SDSU’s own investigation is now active and is following California State University (CSU) policy. She stated, “… external investigators are already scheduled to visit SDSU next month, November 2022, for three days of interviews with Title IX professionals, our victim advocates, and other key faculty, staff and students.”

While this case will continue to be a focal point for needed change at SDSU and campuses across the country, some change for good is already taking place here this semester. The ultimate goal is to both respond to incidents which have occurred and work harder to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

Information for on and off campus safety

SDSU communicates with all students, recognized student organizations, parents and others to inform them about policies, behavior expectations, programs, and other critical information. Communications might be in the form of a presentation, training session, email, or even a social media campaign.

At the start of the school year, students were informed about a multitude of things which support a safe and productive college experience.

Some were presentations to new and transferring students about navigating their new school environments and accessing resources. Discussions conducted by experts with sports teams have also taken place, focusing on sexual assault prevention, consent, laws, and behavior. Alcohol and other drug awareness and problem prevention is also a focus, as is the annual conversation about expected behavior in off-campus neighborhoods and the responsibilities of party hosts.

Corporal Mark Peterson, a community resource officer for the San Diego State University Police Department (UPD), took part in some of the meetings. He emphasized, “During the first few weeks of the semester, we prioritize educating students about the importance of staying safe on and off campus. Students need to understand that they can enjoy safe and fun activities while making good decisions. Safety is a shared responsibility and we encourage students to immediately report emergencies and critical incidents to the police department.”

A new safety-focused newsletter also aims to positively impact well-being.

Emailed twice a month to students, parents, faculty and staff, the “Safety and Wellness Digest” will highlight news and information related to health, safety and general well-being. The e-newsletter will also communicate about campus events and programs designed to provide safe social activities for students, and encourages parents and others to support their students in good decision-making and actions.

Information can also be accessed at healthpromotion.sdsu.edu.

Some of many student efforts

More safety-oriented programming and student resources are being provided and promoted by actual students. There are many efforts on and off campus which are trying to draw attention to critical safety issues and spur change.

Some are taking place at meetings among the Associated Students and its Campus Community Commission.

According to Leanne Locano, a third year student and member, “the Commission is made up of SDSU students who aim to foster strong community relationships and facilitate communication with College Area residents.” As one of the Commission representatives, she says, “the Commission is constantly working on new projects and collaborating with community stakeholders to create a safe, positive and welcoming campus community. The Commission meets on campus every week. For more information go to: as.sdsu.edu.

Students working with the Center for Student Organizations & Activities also help to plan more “safe-space” socializing events like Aztec Nights, generally held each week. Campus areas are transformed into safe and fun settings like block parties, roller-rinks and carnivals with music, food, fun rides, games and prizes.

Greek Life is also focusing more on its roles and responsibilities as organizations and individuals. More information can be found at sdsugreeks.com.

FratMANers is a peer education group specifically for SDSU fraternity men. It’s stated organizational goal is to, “increase awareness about rape, potential rape situations and sexually coercive behavior while decreasing the acceptance of rape myths. They hope FratMANers members, from some 27 SDSU fraternities, will be advocates for change.

Sisster (Sororities Invested in Survivor Support, Training and Ending Rape Culture), is also a peer group which aims to train women from nine SDSU sororities to be leaders in preventing sexual assault through awareness, education, prevention, intervention and survivor support.

Hazing prevention among Greek Chapters and other organizations is also a focus to prevent safety-related problems. The University provides for the anonymous reporting of hazing online at [email protected].

New reporting policies

While campus officials work to comply with legal reporting requirements, they encourage everyone to report concerns or knowledge about sexual misconduct and other incidents which undermine safety on and off campus. There are several reporting methods which have been established to do so, including sexual misconduct/Title IX reporting and discrimination/harassment/retaliation reporting.

Two new policies aim to encourage students to report without fear of repercussion. Listed under “Student Rights and Responsibilities,” the Amnesty Policy encourages campus community members to report incidents of sexual violence, alcohol or other drug-related emergencies, and incidents of hazing. Specifically, “the Amnesty Policy allows students to get help for themselves or others without fear of receiving disciplinary sanctions through the SDSU conduct process.”

El Good Samaritan Policy aims to alleviate conduct penalties for certain alcohol and other drug violations if “recognized student organizations” seek timely assistance from emergency personnel and SDSU staff. Both policies hope to ease concerns and any hesitation someone might have should a situation require an emergency response.

The University Police Department also states, “SDSU encourages anyone, including our neighbors, to call our hotline at (619) 594-9393 to report behavioral issues and concerns.” Incidents can also be reported to the SDPD non-emergency number at (619) 531-2000.

New SDSU safe app

While the new policies hope to increase the likelihood that students will get the help they need if a critical incident occurs, other actions hope to prevent unsafe situations from occurring in the first place. Several other new efforts were initiated with the start of the 2022-23 academic year to better encourage and support student well-being and reduce problems.

One is a free, phone-based app called SDSU Safe. Downloadable for both Apple and Android users, it uses mobile and GPS technologies to promote student safety on and off campus. The app will enable users to receive urgent campus safety alerts, as well as information and links to safety-related resources and tools to report incidents. SDSU Safe also connects to Title IX and other reporting resources. Students can also access “Friend Walk,” which connects individuals to track someone’s movements from one location to another for added safety.

Numerous resources

Some resources are need specific, providing individual counseling, phone consultations, crisis intervention, workshops and peer education to help students connect with someone to explore or address concerns. Students can find these resources at Counseling and Psychological Services. Other well-being services can be found at Student Health Services.

Over 350 recognized student organizations also aim to create opportunities for students to find connection, purpose. and support. Categories include: clubs related to academic interests, honor societies, cultural, LGBTQQIA, recreational, religious, leadership, and Greek Life. Most of these resources can be found through links at sacd.sdsu.edu.

Stronger police presence

In August, as the new school year approached, a pledge was made to proactively address problems in off-campus neighborhoods.

The effort, aiming to better ensure students’ and residents’ safety, was made during a District 9 Advisory Group meeting initiated by Council President Elo-Rivera who represents the College Area. Participants included the Council President, office staff, top leadership from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and San Diego State University Police Department (UPD), City staff members, and a couple of College Area residents representing the College Area Community Council and local neighborhoods. Captain Julie Epperson, who heads SDPD’s Eastern Division, also attended the meeting. Responsible for overseeing the policing of the College Area, she pledged to increase patrol coverage on the three weekends at the start of this school year. Each of these weekends being more likely to have house parties in adjacent College Area neighborhoods, which could result in critically unsafe situations.

Every Friday and Saturday night from Aug. 19 to the Labor Day Holiday, a squad of four SDPD officers and a sergeant patrolled the College Area. Given previous reports of reduced officer staffing, SDPD made a coordinated, strategic plan for coverage. A total of five police departments collaborated in the community support detail, including officers from the SDPD, UPD, Coronado Police Department, CSU, Fullerton Police Department and CSU San Marcos Police Department.

Robert Raynor, SDPD’s Community relations officer for the College Area, worked this detail on the first two Saturdays.

He praised the effort, saying, “Our officers have been doing some good work over the past weekends shutting down parties and arresting criminals in the College Area.” He reported, “During the 6 days of the operation, officers made 157 contacts. Five resulted in felony arrests. One revolver, 1 ghost semi-automatic pistol and 1 hatchet were recovered. Three (contacts) resulted in misdemeanor arrests, 49 traffic stops were conducted (23 received citations, 26 received warnings, one resulted in a vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle), 25 First Response Notices were issued, four vehicles were impounded, 14 field interviews were conducted, and 56 radio calls were responded to.”

First Response Notices are related to the Community Assisted Party Program (CAPP), a tool officers have to deal with problem parties which meet the criteria for nuisance and other violations. Raynor states, “Currently we have 11 houses under CAPP (eight of them entered CAPP in August and September).”

Raynor notes these CAPP procedures, “Upon response to a party call, the officers will determine if it is valid and they will issue a First Response Notice. If a residence receives 2 First Response Notices within 60 days, then the house becomes CAPP’d for 1 year. Any valid noise response to a CAPP’d house results in the residents receiving an Administrative Citation ($1,000). If there are five residents, that party will cost them $5,000. A second response to a CAPP location, the residents and owner of the house (each) receive an Administrative Citation ($1,000).”

The University Police Department says it actively informs students about CAPP, including responsibilities and expected behaviors of party hosts and their guests. Collaborations, like this one among law enforcement agencies, and all the other efforts of groups profiled in this article, will help to better ensure the safety of students on and off campus in the College Area.

An extra police detail is also planned for the upcoming Halloween weekend in hopes of keeping things as safe as possible for students and others at and around SDSU. 

– Karen Austin is a College Area resident and new member of the College Area Community Council, not the Planning Board.