Campuses are typically wide and open to the public, making it ideal for thieves even during daylight. Campuses are prime targets for thieves because the school stocks such highly liquid goods. Expensive books, campus computers and student laptops are easily accessible and can be sold quickly in the market. Because of the widespread cases of theft, some college campuses are taking early initiatives in acting against theft. For example, Colby Sawyer College has launched Operation Engrave, which encourages students to have their personal belongings engraved so that if thieves steal them, the items are easily identifiable as stolen property and cannot be easily sold at pawn shops.
Because college campuses are easily accessible to the public, armed individuals can potentially enter schools without much trouble. There have been many documented cases of college shootings -- a significant amount of them are student initiated. Campuses typically go on high alert upon a strong suspicion of a weapon in the campus. Students immediately get evacuated and the campus can be locked down for hours until the gunman is captured. Many campus patrol officers actively work with students in helping to monitor the campus for signs of weapons and suspicious activity.
Drug and alcohol activity is notoriously high in colleges. Students both over and under the age limit procure alcohol and illegal substances as well as host parties in the college dorms. Most colleges enforce a zero-tolerance policy on the use of alcohol within the campus; bringing alcohol and drugs into campus as well as giving alcohol to underage students are grounds for immediate eviction and severe disciplinary action.
Due to high levels of activism associated with college students, many soliciting parties attempt to use campuses as a platform for their cause. Solicitors include pro and anti movements, military recruitment and company representatives. However, the college typically must approve these groups prior to allowing them to remain on campus. Groups who do not seek solicitation are initially asked to leave, then arrested if they still persist. Moreover, groups who are trying to rally student support against an extremely controversial, racial or religious issue are usually not allowed on the campus.