Pasadena : Campus Security Measures

In the wake of a campus rape, a Pasadena City College women’s group last week encouraged students and teachers to take their safety into their own hands by showing them poorly lit places to avoid at night.

The tour was organized after a student was attacked Sept. 23 in a college parking lot. About 45 students, teachers and some college officials took part in the tour of burned-out lights, dimly lit parking lots and other dangerous places.

The student was forced into the back of a man’s car as she walked through a parking lot at East Colorado Boulevard and Hill Street about 9:40 p.m. It is the only reported rape on the campus in 12 years, according to college officials. No arrests have been made.

The rape prompted students to ask the college’s Board of Trustees to increase security, including installing more lighting and adding video cameras and motion sensor lights to a proposed parking structure.

College officials have bolstered patrols and escort services and started a tram to parking lots between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Temporary parking lot lights have also been installed. Plans were under way before the attack for $150,000 worth of additional lights, officials say. In addition to 16 emergency “panic button” boxes already on the campus, another 60 boxes are planned.