Some dad and mom of scholars on the College of California, Berkeley, employed non-public safety staff to patrol close to the campus, one thing the college says needs to be left as much as the campus police.
The group, known as SafeBears, says it represents greater than 1,300 dad and mom of scholars on the college. It mentioned it determined to rent the safety guards after a number of crimes involving college students final yr, together with a carjacking close to a fraternity home and one other one close to campus.
The college, which has about 45,000 college students, mentioned in a press release that the hiring raised considerations about coaching and expertise, and that “college funds are higher spent hiring extra” campus cops.
Jonathan Simon, a professor of prison justice legislation at U.C. Berkeley, mentioned in a press release that he understood why dad and mom have been involved about security, however that there was no proof that the danger on the college was distinctive.
“I simply don’t see how this stunt can do something to considerably alter these dangers and as a substitute displays the relative privilege of the dad and mom concerned,” he mentioned.
It will be higher to maintain the health club open 24 hours a day and have well-lit operating and jogging paths to have more room for college kids to remain on campus within the night, he added.
Mother and father have been on edge after just a few high-profile crimes on college campuses. In February, the physique of a 22-year-old Augusta College nursing scholar was present in a wooded space on the campus of the College of Georgia in Athens, Ga.
SafeBears — the identify is a nod to the U.C. Berkeley mascot — spent greater than $40,000 to rent the safety officers by a contractor. From March 6 to 23, six “security ambassadors” in shiny yellow jackets patrolled areas close to the college, however not on campus, from 6:30 p.m. till 3:30 a.m. The areas have been chosen due to latest crime studies, in line with the dad and mom.
“I’ve heard from lots of college students who’ve expressed gratitude and aid after they say that they noticed our safety brokers patrolling round campus,” mentioned Sagar Jethani, the president of SafeBears, whose twin sons are sophomores on the college.
All of the folks SafeBears employed underwent a criminal-background verify, in line with a press release from the group.
Additionally they obtained not less than 32 hours of safety officer coaching. They didn’t carry pepper spray, batons, handcuffs or different “defensive tools,” the assertion mentioned.
