Whether growing up in a small suburb or a bustling metropolis, leaving for college is often portrayed as emotional. From Hollywood’s sobbing parents to young adults being on their own for the first time, college can be daunting, especially when it comes to safety.
For all colleges and universities in the United States, a sense of safety can be connected to the Clery Act or blue emergency phones.
The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to produce a security report each Oct. 1 for all employees and students to access. As such, these numbers are compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, with its most recent update published July 2024.
According to the NCES, in 2021 there were 23,400 reports of on-campus criminal incidents from postsecondary institutions, with Washburn University’s Clery report listing 48 on-campus crimes in 2024.
To find Washburn’s Clery report, students can search for “Required Reporting” on the university’s official website or click the link here.
Alongside the Clery report, the university is also required to post a daily log of crime reports, also found in the “Required Reporting” tab of Washburn’s official website.
Another proponent of Washburn’s safety are the blue emergency phones found at one of 16 different locations.
According to the Oct. 8, 2025 WSGA meeting minutes, Chris Herrera, Washburn University safety director, said that one of the blue emergency phones near Advisor’s Excel Hall is not currently working.
These phones have recently sparked debate on college campuses with The University of Kansas announcing the removal of the blue light phones last semester.
“I know there’s mixed views on the blue phones because they don’t necessarily get used very much, but I see them more as a preventative measure,” said Caleb Newfer, WSGA president-elect. “When there’s that phone there, somebody’s far less likely to try to do something.”
Herrera also stated that Washburn Police Chief Chris Enos, has plans to upgrade the current emergency phones to be more visible.
Due to efforts put forth through initiatives such as WSGA’s annual safety walks and the diligence of Washburn’s police department, Washburn is seen as a safe space away from home by those who grace its halls.
Edited by Anushma Dahal and Bidhya Sapkota
