Dear FSU & Tallahassee Officials,

We are writing to you today as deeply concerned parents of a students, or students themselves, at Florida State University. It is with great urgency and sincere concern that we express our dissatisfaction with the current state of safety on and AROUND the FSU campus, including the surrounding off-campus housing areas.

In addition to the campus itself, areas like Tennessee Street, Frenchtown, and College Town — all within a 5- to 10-mile perimeter of Florida State University — have become hotspots for crime that directly affect students’ daily lives. These are the streets students walk, live, and socialize on, and yet they remain plagued by robberies, assaults, and other violent activity. We need a coordinated effort to clean up the surrounding neighborhoods and make the entire area safe for students and the broader community alike.

We feel the amount of crime in these areas is unacceptable. These young adults—our sons and daughters—deserve far better protection than they are currently receiving. As parents, we entrust our children to your city, your university, and your leadership. In return, we expect that everything reasonably possible will be done to ensure their safety and well-being.

It is simply wrong that these students, who are pursuing their education and their futures, must live in fear of becoming victims of crime. Many families make significant financial sacrifices to send their children to FSU, and it is profoundly frustrating and disappointing that safety is not a major concern.

We do not view this issue as just a temporary concern—it is a growing crisis. And unless meaningful action is taken, it may very well impact the decisions families make about whether FSU is a safe and viable place for their children.

We are urging the FSU Police Department, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the State of Florida to work together to implement stronger safety measures both on campus and in the surrounding off-campus housing communities. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Increased police presence and patrols throughout the campus, and, throughout off-campus housing areas - especially at night.
•  Surrounding areas like Tennessee Street, Frenchtown, and College Town have become crime hotspots that urgently need coordinated cleanup efforts, including increased police patrols and community-based enforcement to ensure student and public safety.
• Better control over who enters dormitories. There should never be an instance of a civilian entering a dorm, let alone entering and sexually assaulting someone.
• Improved lighting and surveillance across the entire campus.
• Reduced amount of unkempt landscape, trees, and bushes all over the campus.
• Complete removal of homeless people from campus and off-campus housing areas and all parking structures.
• Secure parking structures to only allow entry to residents.
• Completely transparent and timely communication about criminal activity.
• Stronger partnerships between FSU, local law enforcement, and community organizations to create comprehensive safety strategies.

Our students cannot thrive if they are constantly looking over their shoulders. It is time to act decisively to protect them.

We respectfully request a public response outlining the steps being taken—or planned—to address these issues. We will continue to advocate strongly for the safety and well-being of our children, and we hope to see leadership rise to meet this challenge.

Sincerely,
Concerned Parents and Students of FSU