The seemingly-innocent and idyllic University of California, Santa Barbara—perhaps the only college campus located directly on one of the world’s great oceans—has been ranked at the very top of a listing of “America’s Most Dangerous Universities.” Its sister campuses of UCLA and Berkeley rank as #2 and #19 respectively.[2] This tragic “honor” demands immediate attention, remedies, “fixes,” and careful and unending scrutiny by all who care deeply about the University of California and its ten campuses.[3]
Instead of attacking the messenger or the study’s findings—and in keeping with the words that appear on the University of California’s seal, “Let There Be Light”—positive, proactive steps must be taken immediately to address the critical problems. Neither these three nor any other U.C. campuses should appear on this or any similar listings ever again. Actions must be taken now before life-changing or -ending tragedies occur.
The University and each of its campuses owe this to their students, parents, alumni, faculty members and other employees, the communities in which they are located, and to all Californians whom they serve. Clearly, the vast number of American universities have never appeared on this or any other similar listings. They must be doing something right; and arguably they can provide valuable lessons and guidance to the University of California, UCSB, UCLA and Berkeley.
Indeed, UCLA’s archrival in sports, the ghetto-bound University of Southern California, did not make the list. Leadership is needed now, more than ever before. It counts for nothing that UCLA was considered the most difficult American university to get into, for its entering freshman class in the fall of 2018. Similarly, all of the U.C.’s Nobel Prize winners mean nothing if the campuses are not safe for students, faculty, visitors and the like.
© 2018, Timothy D. Naegele
[1] Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass). He and his firm, Timothy D. Naegele & Associates, specialize in Banking and Financial Institutions Law, Internet Law, Litigation and other matters (see www.naegele.com and Timothy D. Naegele Resume). He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service). Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., www.naegele.com/whats_new.html#articles), and can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com
[2] See https://insurify.com/insights/ivory-tower-incidents-americas-most-dangerous-universities/ (“Ivory Tower Incidents: America’s Most Dangerous Universities”) [Ivory Tower Incidents-America_s Most Dangerous Universities-Insurify]
[3] See, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California (“University of California”)
On a personal note, the author attended all three U.C. campuses; he has degrees from two of them, UCLA and Berkeley; and he has been deeply involved with UCSB—where he served as Vice President of the Freshman Class, President of the Sophomore Class, and Vice President of the student body. Also, he has served on the Board of Directors of the UCSB Alumni Association (1980-86), and as a Trustee of the UCSB Foundation (1987-1990); and his family members are UCSB graduates.
Tragedy Strikes At UCSB, America’s Most Dangerous University [UPDATED]
Gretchen Wenner has written for the Ventura County Star:
See https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/county/2018/10/20/body-found-isla-vista-beach/1712636002/ (“Body found on Isla Vista beach“); see also https://ktla.com/2018/10/23/20-year-old-downey-man-found-dead-along-beach-in-isla-vista/ (“20-Year-Old Downey Man Found Dead Along Beach in Isla Vista“) and https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2018/10/23/officials-identify-man-found-dead-beach-isla-vista-santa-barbara-county/1740282002/ (“Officials identify man found dead on beach in Isla Vista”—”[Alessandro] Esquivel had been a student at UC Santa Barbara, but he was not currently enrolled in classes”)
Before this tragedy occurred, UCSB had been found to be America’s most dangerous university, as discussed in my article above and the footnotes beneath it.
See, e.g., https://insurify.com/insights/ivory-tower-incidents-americas-most-dangerous-universities/ (“Ivory Tower Incidents: America’s Most Dangerous Universities”)
How many more life-changing or -ending tragedies like this will occur before positive, proactive steps are taken to address fully the critical problems at UCSB?
. . .
Lastly, instead of the Insurify article and study (cited at the link immediately above) being a negative for UCSB, its sister campuses of UCLA and Berkeley, and the 17 other colleges that are listed, it can become a positive by concentrating on “fixes” for the problems.
A “sow’s ear” can become a “silk purse,” by focusing adequate attention, personnel and other resources to address the problems completely.
And yes, most of the campuses’ safety issues may be based on unsafe, excessive drinking. None of the universities cited in the Insurify article and study can change behavior that has been set by parental guidance for 17-18 years of the students’ lives. They can only try to educate.
And student suicides are a rising concern.
CAMPUS LIFE TODAY IS URBAN AND HOSTILE FOR SOME
Today’s large college campuses are just like a small town or city and have their proportionate share of crime. Each UC Campus and State U Campus has their own dedicated police department ( Campus Police ) who investigate crimes on their campus and are state certified law enforcement officers just like City Police are. Its not out of control yet.
Even Cruise Ships, at least the large hotel-sized ones, are perfect places for petty theft, assault, drugs, and even a rape or two now and then. Few suspects are apprehended. Presumably, cruise ships have a “brig” to keep offenders in until they reach the next port and can turn them over to the local police for questioning.
Even private colleges such as Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon have their own campus security ( not police ). They must deal with ever present student violations of campus policy such as drinking and smoking marijuana in the dorms or allegations of sexual assault on campus.
I suspect rapes are not unheard of on college property either, even before the Senate Kavanaugh Judicial confirmation hearings. America is descending into chaos and increasing lawlessness. The current political environment is a perfect Sanctuary for criminals of all kinds to prey on the unwary, both on and off-campus.
The social and political problems of America are ubiquitous; and to a certain extent, you can not entirely escape from them anywhere. It matters not whether you live or move out-of-state or are visiting one of many National Parks or State Parks ( Most of which also have their own in-house Law Enforcement Officers, as well). Crime is everywhere and random. You take your chances if you let your guard down or are seen as a easy “mark” by a street thug or political extremist.
Thank you, Craig. Yes, I agree—especially with your last sentence.
Congratulations To UCSB
Halloween 2018 has come and gone, and the preparations undertaken by UCSB were impressive, to say the least. Indeed, Ryder Christ had reported on behalf of the local TV station, KEYT:
See https://www.keyt.com/news/safety/isla-vista-hosts-exclusive-halloween-fun/820867965 (“Isla Vista hosts exclusive Halloween fun“)
One report indicated that it was “very quiet,” which is a tribute to those UCSB administrators and others who had planned ahead. Well done to all! 🙂
Tragedy Strikes At Student Hangout [UPDATED]
Paul Farrell has written at Heavy:
See https://heavy.com/news/2018/11/tamera-mowry-niece/ (“Alaina Housley: A Tribute to Tamera Mowry-Housley’s Niece“) (emphasis added; Tweets, video and Instagram photos omitted); see also https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/11/08/video-thousand-oaks-borderline-bar-shooting/ (“VIDEO: Gunfire Erupts At Borderline Bar & Grill In Thousand Oaks“) and https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6370025/Harrowing-video-inside-Borderline-Bar-shows-gunman-Ian-David-Long-shoot-victims.html (“Harrowing video from inside the Borderline Bar shows gunman Ian David Long shoot victims“) and https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tamera-mowry-housley-adam-housley-search-niece-california-shooting-1159469 (“Tamera Mowry-Housley, Adam Housley Niece Among Victims in California Bar Shooting“) and https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/thousand-oaks-shooting-tamera-mowry-housley-missing-niece-1203023169/ (“‘Sister, Sister’ Star Tamera Mowry-Housley’s Niece Among Victims in Thousand Oaks Shooting”) and https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-calls-mass-shooting-club-thousand-oaks/story (“President Trump calls mass shooting at club in Thousand Oaks, California, ‘terrible,’ says he’s been briefed“) and https://www.cbsnews.com/news/possible-mass-shooting-at-bar-in-thousand-oaks-california-today-2018-11-08-live-updates/ (“13 dead including sheriff’s sergeant and suspect in shooting in Southern California bar — live updates“) and https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6366501/Gunman-shoots-dozens-victims-including-police-officer-opens-fire-California-bar.html (“Thousand Oaks bar gunman was suffering PTSD“) and https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shooting-reported-borderline-bar-grill-thousand-oaks-california-n933831 (“Mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California“) and https://www.thedailybeast.com/ian-long-identified-as-thousand-oaks-california-shooting-gunman (“Cops Determined Marine Veteran Wasn’t a Danger Before Thousand Oaks, California, Shooting“) and https://www.thedailybeast.com/father-of-thousand-oaks-victim-says-last-words-to-son-were-i-love-you (“Father of Thousand Oaks Shooting Victim Says Last Words to Son Were ‘I Love You’”) and https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-honoring-victims-tragedy-thousand-oaks-california/ (“Presidential Proclamation Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Thousand Oaks, California“)
SO, SO SAD . . .
See also https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/law-enforcement-escort-accompanies-alaina-housley-s-final-return-to/article_21a3236e-1cd8-5dcd-bd5e-61719ee3775f.html#tracking-source=home-top-story (“Law enforcement escort accompanies Alaina Housley’s final return to Napa“)
COLLEGE R&D
Collegian recreation and death last night at a sports bar Thousand Oaks, California. Reportedly, many victims were students and other young people. The security guard on contract, probably a bouncer, was not armed. So, what good did he do? 13 dead bodies, including a Ventura County Sheriffs Deputy (Sgt). Clearly, living in liberal, Democratic, secular states and jurisdictions is not good for your health.
Did you know there has not be a single school mass shooting in the State of Utah, ever. Only one mass shooting has occurred in Utah, the Trolley Street Shooting (2007) in Salt Lake City, Utah. So far, they are rare there.
See https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=43161303
Admittedly, Utahans have been very lucky in this day and age. America has many social problems, too many for a healthy body politic in my opinion. Sure, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre ( 2/14/1929) was much worse in the age of gangsters and fully automatic weapons. Seems we are going back into a dangerous period in our history. Its global, not just at UC California Campuses. In Calif. Nobody “has your six”.
You are legally disallowed from carrying a loaded firearm in public for the most part anywhere in Calif. So, You are on your own in the public commons. Rots of Ruck.