West Chester University On Alert After Crime Wave

Officials said they were on alert Thursday at West Chester University after a rash of burglaries and sexual assaults.

[WCU MOM]

We have 2 daughters at WCU, the police find it alot easier searching for parking violations then searching for criminals. It seems the more kids you talk to, the more apparent it is that students are an easy target for the parking police. Why is the Borough and University police, putting all their focus on the parking issues instead of the crimes taking place.

I know this for a fact, I was dropping my daughter off at school, did not get out of the car and I was given a ticket!

[Mouth Wcu Student]

WCU MOM wrote:

We have 2 daughters at WCU, the police find it alot easier searching for parking violations then searching for criminals. It seems the more kids you talk to, the more apparent it is that students are an easy target for the parking police. Why is the Borough and University police, putting all their focus on the parking issues instead of the crimes taking place.
I know this for a fact, I was dropping my daughter off at school, did not get out of the car and I was given a ticket!

I totally agree, also they find it a lot easier to give out citations for drinking, and busting kids, rather than offering rides home from parties, which is common at other schools.

[WCU Neighbor]

WCU MOM wrote:

We have 2 daughters at WCU, the police find it alot easier searching for parking violations then searching for criminals. It seems the more kids you talk to, the more apparent it is that students are an easy target for the parking police. Why is the Borough and University police, putting all their focus on the parking issues instead of the crimes taking place.
I know this for a fact, I was dropping my daughter off at school, did not get out of the car and I was given a ticket!

obviously ignorance runs with students and parents-the parking officers DONT work for the police dept-they are their own department. and your kid is old enough to walk to where u park-u deserved a ticket if u were illegally parked!! WC is a safe town and one or two crimes when everyone gets upset is obsured. If u feel unsafe-move to Iowa with a house with a white picket fence and no neighbors for 100miles

[Julie]

WCU Neighbor wrote:

<quoted text>
obviously ignorance runs with students and parents-the parking officers DONT work for the police dept-they are their own department. and your kid is old enough to walk to where u park-u deserved a ticket if u were illegally parked!! WC is a safe town and one or two crimes when everyone gets upset is obsured. If u feel unsafe-move to Iowa with a house with a white picket fence and no neighbors for 100miles

OK, I went to school there and commuted. EVEN WITH A PARKING PERMIT THERE IS NO PARKING. I USED TO WALK ALL THE WAY TO AND FROM CAMPUS TO THE SHOPPING CENTER DOWN WHERE THE PIZZA HUT HAD BEEN AND GUESS WHAT???? I WAS JUMPED AND ASSAULTED AND ALMOST RAPED. I still have the scars from it as a reminder. They actually caught the guy who had raped a 60 year old woman as well. The ignorance is on your end. You don't know what it is like in the dorms or as a student on campus. Everyone who lives there is annoyed by the college students and the parking issues as are the students. Maybe some parking garages???? Maybe in your world you feel safe, but after the reports it's only natural for kids and parents in the college world to feel unsafe. AND every crime is not reported in the newspaper, I know for a fact my assault was not. Iowa and white picket fences w/ you as a neighbor 100miles away sounds great.... for you.

[Dub C]

Parking? There is limited parking available... but such is life.
Oftentimes the officers writing tickets are NOT police.. they are parking enforcement employees of the Borough or University. Anyway.. that isn't the concern of this article.

What about student safety?
Why does WCU have a policy in place that invokes administrative consequences should a student LEGALLY possess a firearm with a permit (Legal almost anywhere in the state, and NOT illegal at WCU... just barred by policy - if you are caught, you get kicked out). The University, the Borough, and West Goshen township have limited police forces... they CANNOT be everywhere at once. In fact, West Chester's police force hasn't increased in size in years.

http://www.concealedcampus.org/

[Tom Kane]

Crimes and accidents on college campuses will continue to happen. No college or person is exempt from that reality. With that in mind, the question becomes,“How can students better protect themselves and be better prepared?”

My name is Tom Kane. I am president of The College Safety Zone, and author of the new nationally released book, Protect Yourself at College: Smart Choices – Safe Results. This book is the first comprehensive college safety book ever brought to the marketplace.

Students need quality safety programming, not only once they get on campus, but actually before they arrive. Students should be taught about campus safety issues in high school. Should anyone have any questions about college safety issues, please do not hesitate to contact me. My website is www.collegesafetyzone.com

[Tom Kane]

Dub,

The notion of allowing students to carry guns on campus to better protect themselves is ludicrous!

You and your group are uninformed as to the facts. You base your so-called evidence on emotion and not factual documentation.

My name is Tom Kane. I am president of The College Safety Zone, and author of the book, Protect Yourself at College. I would debate you and your group, or anyone else for that matter who thinks students carrying guns on campus would be safer and help protect their fellow students. My website is www.collegesafetyzone.com

[Tom Kane]

Dub C wrote:

Parking? There is limited parking available... but such is life.
Oftentimes the officers writing tickets are NOT police.. they are parking enforcement employees of the Borough or University. Anyway.. that isn't the concern of this article.
What about student safety?
Why does WCU have a policy in place that invokes administrative consequences should a student LEGALLY possess a firearm with a permit (Legal almost anywhere in the state, and NOT illegal at WCU... just barred by policy - if you are caught, you get kicked out). The University, the Borough, and West Goshen township have limited police forces... they CANNOT be everywhere at once. In fact, West Chester's police force hasn't increased in size in years.
http://www.concealedcampus.org/

Dub,

The notion of allowing students to carry guns on campus to better protect themselves is ludicrous!

You and your group are uninformed as to the facts. You base your so-called evidence on emotion and not factual documentation.

My name is Tom Kane. I am president of The College Safety Zone, and author of the book, Protect Yourself at College. I would debate you and your group or anyone else for that matter, who thinks students carrying guns on campus would be safer and help protect their fellow students. My website is www.collegesafetyzone.com

[Tal]

Well, if the Campus police would stop ticketing park cars and keep there eyes open for real problems.

[Tal]

WCU neighbor, seem you don't like the college there. More than likely it is the noise of college. I guess sound of gun fire be better like in the city. it brings $$ to your area.

Kane, your trying to sell your book. And I have no intention on debating. WCU should offer a self defense course. And how the school billing get back to a parent in a orderly fashion, show how WCU don't have it together. One of my child attended PSU. And they follow up with a parent.
At my age of 51, a black belt. I just threw down a punk kid down and walk away.

If you think the burbs is safe, it is not. It is a place to punks to come in and commit crime, because kids today lack the street sense.

[WCU Senior]

I have been going to west chester for 3 years and I currently rent an apartment in downtown WC. The problems off and on campus have gotten so bad that I have been paying rent on an apartment off campus and haven't stayed there more than a few nights since I started renting last May. I can't even go to my car at night in a well lit parking lot to retrieve stuff out of my car because there are always suspiscious people around there drunk or homeless people. As a female in west chester, living at one time on Walnut street and now downtown, I have never felt safe at night, not even on campus. Everyday I get emails in my WCU email saying what's going on with the town and campus. It worries me that it has gotten so bad. When I first started going there I rarely heard of incidents going on like this, now I get three or four emails a day. I think it's great that the school notifys it's students, but it's just scary to see how bad it's gotten. Anyone who dares to say that it's not that bad, try taking a walk in downtown west chester on even the mainstreets or on the campus and see how you feel at night (with or without a group). It's out of control!

[WCU Senior]

http://wcupa.edu/dps/ - website for the long list of incidents happening at wcu in the past few days, and so forth.

[Opinionsarelikea -holz]

Well, everyone is obviously going to disagree.
WCU is also my alma mater. I spent 4 years there. Although I can agree that parking is a bit tight, as well as the rules, what do you expect? The town is like 300 years old. It's got tiny colonial streets and it's slightly over-populated for its size. If there weren't strict laws the place would be chaotic.
As far as being dangerous? You have got to be kidding me. I spent many a nights walking around, from frat party to frat party, and not a problem. However, one shouldn't shake a stick at common sense. Wherever you are, whether it be a big city or a little college town- there are basic rules people, particularly women. Dont walk alone, always be aware of your surroundings, etc.
And yes- It is common sense- but they taught it at WCU too.

[Loren]

WCU alum here as well. I don't see the big deal here. This sort of stuff will always happen. It's a microcosm of the world we live in.
Tal, WCU does offer a personal defense class. Or what I liked to call it "cop a feel" class. I'd recommend it.

[on campus student]

once again it needs to be said that the officers giving parking tickets are not the police, the are parking officers and not related to the actual police who need to be on the look out for these other offenders. i think its stupid that people are bitching about the parking tickets when they have nothing to do with the crime rate at west chester. every one knows that those safety alerts are there to let us know what is happening on and around campus. they do get annoying but at least public safety isnt hiding anything from us. at other campuses they dont report or tell their students half the shit we get told at wcu. so deal with the parking tickets, buy a parking permit, park in the right lot, and stop bitching. wcu is a great school and its as safe as any other college like it.

[Opinionsarelikea -holz]

on campus student wrote:

once again it needs to be said that the officers giving parking tickets are not the police, the are parking officers and not related to the actual police who need to be on the look out for these other offenders. i think its stupid that people are bitching about the parking tickets when they have nothing to do with the crime rate at west chester. every one knows that those safety alerts are there to let us know what is happening on and around campus. they do get annoying but at least public safety isnt hiding anything from us. at other campuses they dont report or tell their students half the shit we get told at wcu. so deal with the parking tickets, buy a parking permit, park in the right lot, and stop bitching. wcu is a great school and its as safe as any other college like it.

agreed

[Julie]

Opinionsarelikea-holz wrote:

Well, everyone is obviously going to disagree.
WCU is also my alma mater. I spent 4 years there. Although I can agree that parking is a bit tight, as well as the rules, what do you expect? The town is like 300 years old. It's got tiny colonial streets and it's slightly over-populated for its size. If there weren't strict laws the place would be chaotic.
As far as being dangerous? You have got to be kidding me. I spent many a nights walking around, from frat party to frat party, and not a problem. However, one shouldn't shake a stick at common sense. Wherever you are, whether it be a big city or a little college town- there are basic rules people, particularly women. Dont walk alone, always be aware of your surroundings, etc.
And yes- It is common sense- but they taught it at WCU too.

I used to think the same way you do. I am glad you walked around and felt safe, ummmm so did I. I was with 3 other people, but unfortunately my car was further away than theirs. I am a strong person, but he was stronger. As far as common sense, isn't common sense if there is a parking problem to solve it instead of taking money for parking permits which do not guarantee a parking spot. If the 300 year old town can't handle the parking than the college should build garages. It is the college's responsibility to provide a safe environment for it's students and staff. Sorry, but in today's world common sense doesn't always keep you safe and secure.

[yes]

it seems stupid to spend money on ppeople giving out parking tickets when they could be used as security...but i guess the schools would rather make that extra few bucks off the tickets then to protect people...i think it is awful for anyone any where to think it is ok to deal with losers harming innocent people...think if these schools really cared abou tthe stucdent they would spend more on security then giving out parking tix...

[Old timer]

Its going to keep getting worse, its all going downhill, everythings falling apart.

[Old timer]

The police are not a taxi service. "Adults" who are old enough to drink shouldn't be getting so blitzed they don't have any control. If my kids do this in college I'll kick their asses inside out.

Mouth Wcu Student wrote:

<quoted text>
I totally agree, also they find it a lot easier to give out citations for drinking, and busting kids, rather than offering rides home from parties, which is common at other schools.