UCSB is a (generally) safe school

siglio21
Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:17:34 +0000

With the recent thread on the rape, I think a lot of prospective students and parents have concerns about the security situation in IV. The truth is that it is as safe as you make it. I have never once been in a situation where I have been uncomfortable in public. Not one person has threatened me with anything. If you look at public records, the UCSB community has a average to below-average crime incident rate.

The IV Foot Patrol covers the area pretty well, and the rare assault/stabbing is responded to quickly. UCPD, IVFP, and the Sheriff’s Department are quick to arrest out of line drunk people, and there are DUI checkpoints at least once a week. Even late at night during Halloween, it’s still more or less safe to walk around IV. If you ever feel unsafe, the UCPD CSO office can provide an escort that will stay with you until you reach your destination, even at 3am.

Now, there are many scumbag-types in IV. Rapes DO happen in the UCSB community; they are very underreported (public record shows something like one rape last year, when in fact there were probably around 30). People get drunk a lot; hence the need for DUI checkpoints and the ubiquitous night time patrols. But this will not affect most people. Date rape, assault, and murder stats are around national average. If you feel safe in your home town, you will feel safe at UCSB unless you make questionable choices. Take the right precautions and you will rarely or never encounter bad situations.

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