Campus Attacks
By
Courtney S. Barrett
Armstrong Atlantic University
Campus Attacks
For many years, people have viewed college campuses as sanctuaries that were immune to the crimes that many small and large cities faced. With a broadened availability of funds and opportunities for the chance at getting a higher education, the door of opportunity for many adults has been opened. More and more universities have programs for part-time students, older adults, and satellite campuses. There are now just as many non-traditional adult students attending college as there are traditional students (Bedenbaugh, 2003).
A number of high profile violent crimes, such as the April 16, 2007 shooting at Virginia Technical College (Vise, 2010), has begun to diminish the perception of a safe campus. This brutal and unwarranted attack, along with several others, has caused students and many staff members of universities to exhibit avoidance and protective behaviors. This invasion of crimes from the larger civilization and lack of its awareness has caused many students to fall victim to campus crimes (Bedenbaugh, 2003).
Most college students are involved in activities, clubs, organizations, or just spend leisure time with friends on campus. Because most of these attacks are committed by someone that the student knows, there is a vast affect on the decrease in awareness of crimes and victimization.
Campus attacks entail a very broad spectrum of crimes, including murder, manslaughter, criminal homicide, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, arson, and motor vehicle theft.
Extent of Attacks on College Campuses in the U.S. and Georgia
Since 1990, five federal laws and several state laws have been created to increase security on university campuses (Security on Campus 2000). These laws, that include provisions which require university police and administration to accurately and openly report their school’s crime statistics (Hudge 2000), have caused an...