Grambling State University – No Safety in Numbers

On paper, Grambling State University has all of the makings for a safe campus. The Louisiana institution’s undergraduate headcount is on the lower end of the spectrum, and its campus is rural, with no city crime spilling over here. Yet current and former students at the historically black college say that a sense of security isn’t necessarily included with its top notch academics. Some of the problems lie within the administration, while others can be attributed to a lack of decorum amongst select Tigers. Four main colleges, Division 1 sports and a famed marching band have probably led you to this very article, but steer clear if keeping out of harm’s way is a primary influence on your post-high-school decision.

By no means do we want you to have the impression that Grambling State is a lawless land. Beyond school policies that have very real consequences, there’s a small police force that patrols the grounds. We say small, and mighty doesn’t apply either. Budget cuts in recent years have significantly affected the number of officers on the force. While some areas are heavily patrolled, you just don’t see the kind of police presence at Grambling that you do elsewhere. The school tried to offset some of the low numbers by employing younger, stronger officers; this hasn’t stopped Tigers from worrying about their accessibility to help. Nonetheless, the police are a friendly bunch who will drive you home if you give them a call. Just don’t expect them to be around every corner that you turn.

Elevated rates of violence and burglary are common at schools that reside within a city. At this point, we almost expect it. However, rural campuses such as Grambling’s can produce the same effect. Why? Some scholars turn to trouble when faced with a lack of places to go or things to do in a small town. Take a look at this crime summary that spans several years, and you’ll see worrisome rankings in assault and burglary. This brings us to our next point: decorum. Sporting events and other times of the year when parties are in no short demand produce a lot of turmoil on campus.

These environments, often accompanied by underage drinking, are usually marked by illicit drug use, violence and other questionable antics. Police are trying their best to crack down on these areas. They simply don’t have the numbers. When talking about the safety at University of Connecticut recently, we were happy to see students there promoting an Honor System and looking out for one another. Such camaraderie appears foreign at Grambling. In fact, three students were shot in 2013 when a fight broke out at their dorm.

In the instance of a physical injury, the health center might not be your best bet. They offer the basics like general health screenings and treatment of minor cases, but the quality is said to be lackluster. This is unfortunately the case at many universities we research, regardless of size or funding. Accessibility, ease of being seen and provided care don’t fare well here.

From what we can gather, Grambling State has a kind of “every man for himself” mentality that yields anxiety and turmoil amongst the student body. The police force isn’t overly visible, and it remains in a transitional phase of becoming more efficient. Rowdy students admittedly give the university a poor reputation; this doesn’t make their ill-fated decisions any less disturbing for peers. We advise you to look to other universities where safety protocols and student behavior are up to par.

If you thought safety was bad at Grambling, wait until you read about the campus food.

Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.