Female students at a California college say they’ve been forced to take their safety into their own hands after a string of rapes, blaming the school for failing to protect them and arming themselves as they cross campus.
Cal State San Marcos experienced four rapes in a span of just three weeks in September. Each attack happened during a time period known as the “Red Zone,” a critical time of the school year when 50% of sexual assaults happen as new students experience campus life, and sometimes the party scene, for the first time.
The school, home to about 17,000 students, issued a flyer with the heading “How do I help someone involved in a sexual assault incident?” featuring a cartoon cat.
Megan Chavez, a literature and writing student at CSUSM, doesn’t believe the school’s action plan to prevent sexual assaults and warn students about the “Red Zone” has been enough.
Chavez, 25, said she first encountered the “Red Zone” phrase while completing the university’s mandatory Title IX training, which she described to the California Post as glitchy and difficult to navigate.
“Everything around keeping students safe and everything around teaching consent, affirmative consent and preventing sexual violence, it just feels super disorganized,” she told The Post. She also took issue with the cartoon cat used on a flyer with such a serious message.
“I looked at that. I was like, ‘This is so stupid,’” she said, “It’s mocking it.”
Many female students are also arming themselves with pepper spray and walking together in groups, according to Chavez.
“I would say I feel more safe back home than I do here now. You know, and I feel like that kind of tells me a lot about the school, or that they need to like, you know, have a better like security system or something because yeah. Now I’m. I think I should have stayed home instead of coming,” Adamaris Maya, 18, a freshman studying psychology told The Post.
CSUSM confirmed four rapes were reported on Sept. 5, 6, 13 and 18 at The Quad, University Village Apartments and Black Oak Hall. Days later, on Sept. 21, another person reported being sexually assaulted after someone allegedly broke into their dorm.
“I feel like if this is how we’re starting the year, this will eventually escalate to something worse,” 18-year-old student, Nohemi Escano, told The Post.
“After that, what comes next? Possible murder, possible kidnapping. It scales. It goes through levels, and that doesn’t make me feel safe. In fact, I have two 8 p.m. classes. I don’t feel safe,” she continued.
University spokesperson Jerry McCormick said the cases are not believed to be connected and that those involved knew each other.
University President Ellen Neufeldt has since addressed the reports, telling students the school was “doubling down” on efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence.
She announced increased police patrols, overnight security in residential communities and 24-hour front desk staffing and guest registration at North Commons and Black Oak Hall.
“It’s important to notice and to highlight that we as students have the right to have fun, to not be sober, and still be safe. I’m tired of hearing people say, “Well, maybe they were drunk, maybe they were high, maybe they were not sober. People have the right to have fun and be safe.” Escano added.
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