Female students at a university in California are expressing concerns about their safety following the report of four sexual assaults on campus within just three weeks of the semester starting.
A student from Cal State San Marcos has initiated a petition urging the administration to boost security measures after the alarming reports heightened fears of sexual violence among women at the school.
“We deserve a safe educational environment, just like any other student,” the student mentioned in her petition on Change.org.
The petition, which was created on September 21, highlights the distress caused by four reported rapes and an additional case of breaking and entering, alongside a sexual assault, all occurring on campus in less than three weeks.
It requests the university to enhance security particularly in areas like parking lots, the Quad, and other poorly illuminated spots, and insists on “complete transparency” regarding the measures officials plan to implement to tackle these safety issues.
The student noted that she and others had previously contacted the Associate Vice President for Campus Security but had yet to receive any feedback.
She criticized the lack of communication from the university on whether security would be increased, suggesting that students shouldn’t have to bear the responsibility of their own safety.
The incidents are said to have taken place at The Quad, University Village Apartments, and Black Oak Hall during the first half of September.
Bafflingly, despite the reports being confirmed—dated September 5, 6, 13, and 18—a university spokesperson mentioned that they do not think the cases are linked and indicated that the involved parties were known to each other.
“Sexual assault is completely unacceptable; it is always the responsibility of the perpetrator, never that of the survivor. Consent must always be mutual, voluntary, and continuous,” the spokesperson added.
The university also issued safety alerts in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act regarding the incidents.
He further emphasized that the early weeks of the semester are often viewed as a vulnerable time for sexual violence on college campuses nationwide.
“This initial period—commonly referred to as the ‘Red Zone’—has an increased risk of sexual assaults,” he stated.
However, the petition argues that simply educating students or advising them to be cautious isn’t sufficient. It calls for university officials to take more proactive steps to prevent violence.
“It’s not fair for us to take on full responsibility for being overly cautious because of the repugnant actions of others,” the petition concludes.
