Public Safety on Campus

WINSTON-SALEM, NC

The Winston-Salem State University Police & Public Safety Department partners and collaborates with the city of Winston-Salem, supporting students, faculty, and staff to foster an environment of learning, that is as free from security and safety concerns.

However, some have made the police department’s job difficult within the last few years. The Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses.

WSSU’s has had over 40 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Offenses on campus for 3 straight years. In 2024 alone, there were 31 cases of domestic violence on campus. On top of VAWA offenses, WSSU had incidents of Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Drug Abuse, Illegal Weapon possesion, and eight cases of rape last school year.

According to the American School Search, Winston-Salem State University has received a “F” letter grade for their campus safety, ranking them as one of the least safe institutions. It is to be noted that WSSU is an open campus, meaning it is open to the public. The surrounding city of Winston-Salem has a crime rate that is higher than roughly 89% of communities in North Carolina. This can have a major impact on perceptions of campus safety.

But what is the Campus PD doing about it? WSSU’s SGA Attorney General Madison Massey, oversees the student body regarding student conduct and civility. She works with the Campus Police Department, Allied Security (WSSU Security Unit), and the Office of Community Standards and Civility. Ms. Massey has a say in student conduct cases and helps determine if a student should be expelled or suspended.

She believes the main safety concern right now is controlling who comes on campus. Again, with WSSU being a open campus, her team is trying to find ways to limit the public’s access to the university.

Despite the conditions and the statistics, most students say they feel protected walking around campus. Winston-Salem State uses an app called Rave Guardian that allows students, faculty, staff, and visitors to anonymously report tips to WSSU Police. The app also allows users to receive RamALERT Emergency notifications, has an emergency call button to connect with the campus police, and has a Virtual Escort and Timer feature that makes sure you never walk alone.

Ms. Massey says few people have the app downloaded, but it is a “really good buddy system,” and if students used it, they would feel safer on campus.

Also, the Campus PD has installed a plethora of speed bumps on the roads to prevent cars speeding down the parking lots. Ms. Massey is aware of the speeding problem on Martin Luther King Drive, but they can only put speed bumps in the parking lot areas, not on the main road.

In conclusion, though WSSU has received criticism for its campus safety from the outside, most students actually feel safe here, and the school keeps trying to improve as the days go by.