Campus Security Correlates to Student Success

For Seattle University’s new executive director of Public Safety and Emergency Management, the priorities are twofold. First, push back against misleading perceptions and educate the campus community that SU’s urban campus is safe.

Priority two: Prepare students, faculty and staff for when it isn’t.

Whether because of an earthquake, a car crash near campus, people from adjoining neighborhoods experiencing a mental health crisis and finding themselves on campus or an extreme event that can strike anywhere—like an active shooter—part of Randy Merced’s job is to ensure the campus knows how to respond to emergencies big and small.

“We have to educate our campus community that this is a safe campus, but the perception, like I said, might be different because it's dark, it's Seattle and they just come to this perception. The reality is I think it's very safe, but we have to continue educating the campus community about that.”

That can come in the form of emergency preparedness training and maintaining the extensive Campus Public Safety notification system as well as raising awareness about safety escorts—where security officers will personally walk with students around campus or to their vehicles any time of day. Escorts are also available for those who are experiencing a threat or need an escort to medical services.

“Some students don't even realize that we do have an escort program here. So, we have to really market ourselves to do that, to try to eliminate that sense of fear. I encourage all community to use our escort program if they feel unsafe for any reason.”

Preparedness can also take the form of working with facilities to identify areas of campus that could benefit from improvements such as increased lighting during the dark days of winter.

“My whole life trajectory was not something I planned. How can I make people who look like me become successful and try to get myself involved in those kinds of programs to help out students, especially those who are underrepresented.”
—Randy Merced

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, and long involved in campus security, Merced arrived from Front Range Community College in Colorado and before that Philadelphia. Though members of their family worked in law enforcement, they saw a different path (Merced uses they/them pronouns).

“I fell in love with school, its mission and the Jesuit philosophy that drives our purpose. School is a place where you get to watch people graduate for the first time. I always get choked up when I see a family joyfully celebrating their child getting their diploma. For some it’s the first in the family so I know it’s a special moment for them. And so I dedicated myself to be more of a student success kind of person.”

Unlike larger, public universities that have their own police departments complete with sworn officers, Seattle University employs a staff of 27 security officers who are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Merced makes clear there are circumstances that require law enforcement, which can lead to arrest and winding through the courts. However, Merced says most of the safety issues facing campus are low-level such as graffiti, car prowls and noise complaints and Merced sees themself and their officers as partners with the rest of campus, invested in student success.

“We need to get these students to graduation. Sometimes they fall off the rails and then we must go and help them out. So, I’m a big proponent of restorative justice. And that just means that we’re trying to figure out how we can issue a sanction but not impede their student success story, making sure they learn from the mistake they made but trying to keep them on track to graduation.”
 
It was this involvement with students that drew them to the work.

“My whole life trajectory was not something I planned. How can I make people who look like me become successful and try to get myself involved in those kinds of programs to help out students, especially those who are underrepresented.”

Merced has rolled out his approach, called the “I Heart SU University Community Outreach Safety Initiative,” which promotes a philosophy of collective responsibility and care.

“It's accountability for the greater community so people say, ‘Hey, I see something. I got to say something.’ We want to recognize that. We want people to say, ‘I'm part of this issue here.’ So, if someone is doing something wrong, they're going to say, ‘I want to report this.’ It's community engagement.”

Though security officers enforce the rules, Merced says his approach has won over students who appreciate his compassion, often leading to lasting and positive relationships.

“Usually when they're graduating, they pull me over and say, ‘I want you to meet my mom.’ Sometimes you become a mentor without even trying. That really appealed to me, watching students succeed.”

In their spare time, Merced enjoys reading, hiking and outdoor activities, doing home repairs, woodworking and spending time with their wife, Joann, and grandchildren, Luna and Theo.