Campus Safety officers have bigger egos than can fit in this tiny campus. For a school as small and peaceful as Kenyon, Campus Safety officers (Campo) continuously disrespect and look down upon students as if they are dealing with hardened criminals. Campo is intended to keep us safe, not create hostility and bully students. Their complete lack of respect for students has been prevalent during the entirety of my time at Kenyon, as I can count on one hand my good or even neutral experiences with Campus Safety. Whether it was through personal interactions, my friends’ experiences or other stories I’ve heard, there has always been tension between Campo and the student body. It seems like they are looking for ways to get us in trouble as a means to continue their power trip. 

I have lived in the North Campus Apartments (NCAs) for almost two years now, and it is clear to me and other residents that Campus Safety officers play favorites. They are biased in shutting down parties, responding to “noise complaints” or even in the way they talk to different students. In May 2025, during the quiet hours of finals week, the men’s lacrosse NCA was playing beer pong in their front yard all night long. I don’t mind a party, and neither did Campo in this case. This tolerance doesn’t apply equally to everyone, though. 

On a Saturday night last spring semester — not during finals week — my housemates and I left an NCA party and went to our porch to listen to music. Three Campo vehicles and five officers approached our house and immediately started yelling at us to turn the music off, even threatening to take our speaker if they had to come back. They drove by not just one, but three overcrowded and noisy NCAs to yell at a few girls listening to Bad Bunny on their porch. This happened at the Sisterhood NCA, a space designated for femmes of color, which has been on Campo’s radar for no good reason for years. Graduated and current members of Sisterhood have always expressed Campus Safety’s combative attitude toward our organization. They told stories of Campo patrolling the NCA even when they weren’t throwing a party. Men of Color (MOC) also shares similar experiences, as a few years ago, they got in trouble after throwing an all-campus party. Security footage from Colburn Hall was being monitored, and someone was seen bringing in an outside drink. Outside of their control, MOC was still punished and unable to throw any more events for the rest of the semester. 

So, Campus Safety, what are the exact protocols you follow? What rules are you choosing to enforce, and do they apply to everyone? 

Campo tries to find ways to intimidate and display power over students as a way to boost their egos. Campus Safety recently stopped my friend for illegally carrying an open can but, in the process, took things a step further by being blatantly disrespectful and ridiculing her behavior. They repeatedly told her how much trouble she could’ve been in and then dramatically poured out the can in front of her. They felt the need to inform her they were looking out for her, that the sheriff is the only one who enforces the open can rule, almost as if she should thank them. They didn’t ask for her name or any information; they just wanted to scare her. 

I am never frightened by Campo; to be honest, I take them less and less seriously after each interaction we have. This is sad, especially because of our tight-knit community here on campus and the importance of what the officers’ jobs should be. Yet, Campus Safety continues to show that they are fighting against us, not for us. Frankly, they are not who I would call in an emergency. So, Campo, dismantle your attitudes and check yourself. Remember, at the end of the day, your job is to make sure the student body feels safe, not discriminated against and annoyed.

Julissa Escoffery ’27 is a neuroscience major from Phoenix. She can be reached at escoffery1@kenyon.edu.