(This story has been updated to remove the photo of an apartment building which is not mentioned in the story.)
A new petition posted to change.org on Sept. 13 urges Florida State University (FSU) and the FSU Police Department (FSUPD) to take “meaningful action” to improve student safety both on and off campus. Created by Christine Morrell and signed by “concerned parents and students of FSU,” the petition highlights a “dissatisfaction with the current state of safety on and around the FSU campus, including the surrounding off-campus housing areas.”
The petition pinpoints Tennessee Street, Frenchtown and College Town, all of which are located within a five to 10-mile radius of FSU, as crime hotspots. These locations are where many students live, walk and socialize daily.
Recently, off-campus safety has been a prominent issue. On Labor Day, a shooting at a student apartment complex, Redpoint Tallahassee, left at least three people injured.
A stabbing took place at Cascades Park on Sept. 10. Members of Peak Pulse Run Club, a community running group that some students in the Tallahassee area are involved in, were at the park when the stabbing occurred.
On-campus safety has also been a concern. On Aug. 30, FSUPD alerted the campus community to a sexual battery incident that occurred in a residence hall, which the petition references in its narrative.
The call for increased safety also arises following recent incidents on college campuses across the nation. On Sept. 11, many historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received “terroristic threats” following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Kirk was shot in the neck from a nearby building on the university’s campus.
While FSU updated its campus safety protocol following the April 17 shooting, the urgency to improve safety measures has expanded.
Petitioners call for a coordinated effort from FSU, the Tallahassee Police Department and the state of Florida to implement more effective measures for student safety. The petition proposes increased police presence, additional night patrols, improved lighting and increased surveillance both on campus and surrounding off-campus housing areas.
The petition also presses for stricter dorm access to prevent unauthorized entry, safer parking structures with resident-only access and the “complete removal of homeless people from campus and off-campus housing areas and all parking structures.”
While the Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data, support victims of violence and publish outlines of safety policies, the petition also requests faster and more transparent communication about criminal activity on and around campus.
Some students expressed concerns about FSU’s current transparency on safety issues in the broader community.
“I only learned about the Cascades Park incident through an FSView publication, not an FSUPD notice, but I did get a notice when the sexual battery happened,” junior Daniela Gutierrez said to the FSView. “Unfortunately, I do feel there’s some inconsistency in their communication, I don’t think I’m the only one who’s also interested in knowing about incidents happening outside but near campus.”
In the comment section of the petition, some supporters echoed these concerns while encouraging others to help expand its reach.
The letter mentions that, by choosing to send their children to FSU, families invest heavily and, in turn, expect “far better protection than they are currently receiving.” Petitioners warn that the university’s reputation could suffer if safety concerns are not addressed, potentially influencing future students’ decisions to enroll.
“Unless meaningful action is taken, it may very well impact the decisions families make about whether FSU is a safe and viable place for their children,” the petition says.
University officials have emphasized that there have been significant improvements to campus safety. In a statement addressed to the FSU community, Assistant Vice President for Public Safety Barbara O’Connor and Chief of Police Jason Trumbower outline updates to campus safety, including the installation of new technology such as panic and lockdown buttons in academic spaces.
O’Connor and Trumbower encouraged the community to follow safety protocols and utilize available resources, including Emergency Preparedness Guides and Active Threat Training.
Separately, FSU released a short video on Sept. 18 that gives additional safety reminders to the community.
“The FSU Police Department is a fully accredited law enforcement agency and our mission is simple: keeping our campus community safe,” Trumbrower said in the video. “You’ll see our FSUPD officers all over campus. They’re trained, professional and committed to your wellbeing.”
Despite these efforts, petitioners say they will continue to “advocate strongly for the safety and well-being of [their] children.” The petition’s listed goal is to reach 1,000 signatures. So far, the petition is just shy of 800 signatures.
Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: Parent petition calls for improvements to campus and community safety
Reporting by Staff Report / FSU News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
