Policing in Higher Education: An Examination of Common, Concerning Student Experiences and Perspectives on Change

• In Event: Violence on Campus and Forces for Change

Abstract

Colleges invest heavily in campus police forces whose impacts on students are rarely studied. A representative survey at a public university in the Midwest examined diverse students’ experiences with, attitudes toward, and desire for change regarding how their campus is policed. An intersectional approach investigated the experiences of White, Asian, and URM cisgender men, cisgender women, and transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) students. Results provide the first quantitative, representative understanding of student experiences with police at a public university. Half of students reported encounters with police; with 24% experiencing unfair treatment. Attitudes about police were mixed, most students indicated one or more problems with campus police. Support for policy change was widespread. There were significant differences across race and gender.

Author

• Sara Abelson, Temple University
  Presenting Author