"Despite the street on which the shooting occurred being on the university’s map, and multiple residential halls and academic buildings being past that point, the area does not fall under the Rowan University Police Department’s jurisdiction." (Jaziya McDonald)
Growing up in a generation where gun violence is common, it’s easy to become desensitized to it. Students as young as five years old are taught which corner to hide in if there’s an intruder in the building. However, they’re rarely given an outlet to process what that actually means.
Children aren’t taught how to handle the fear, confusion, or sadness that comes after a terrifying event. These emotions follow them long after they leave K-12 classrooms.
Around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, Glassboro Police responded to a call about a drive-by shooting that happened right outside of Holly Pointe Commons at Rowan University. A gun and spent shell casings were found at the scene.
Despite the street on which the shooting occurred being on the university’s map, and multiple residential halls and academic buildings being past that point, the area does not fall under the Rowan University Police Department’s (RUPD) jurisdiction. But at what point does the line between “on” and “off” campus stop mattering? No students were involved this time, but the university shouldn’t wait for that to change before addressing the safety of its community.
This makes the entire situation more confusing and frustrating, especially in light of the multiple recent shootings near or on university campuses across the country. Students walk that sidewalk every day, whether that is to head to class or head out for the weekend. It’s hard to justify why an area that is rooted in campus life is considered “off-campus” only when something dangerous happens. It feels more like a loophole to get out of taking accountability for the lack of safety on campus.
It’s not just about one street, either. Rowan has an off-campus presence, especially through affiliated Greek life and student housing scattered throughout Glassboro. Many of these spaces host parties and events that attract individuals who do not attend the university.
When problems arise in those areas, such as noise complaints, fights, or worse, the school can quickly label them as off-campus incidents. If Rowan is going to affiliate itself with off-campus organizations, it should also ensure that proper safety measures are in place, such as regular check-ins, reporting procedures, and communication with local authorities. The same goes for off-campus housing that is marketed toward Rowan students. These are still student environments, even if they sit a few blocks away from the official campus.
The bigger issue is that students are left to navigate spaces that feel like part of campus but aren’t protected as such. That confusing boundary puts responsibility on students rather than the university meant to protect them. It shouldn’t take a tragedy involving a Rowan student for the university to reconsider what should and shouldn’t be part of its jurisdiction.
RUPD needs to work with local law enforcement and community leaders to bridge that gap. What makes this even more devastating is the lack of acknowledgment from the administration. Students deserve reassurance, especially after something this close to campus. Legally speaking, RUPD would not have been able to respond to the shooting because that location is out of their jurisdiction. However, this doesn’t excuse the university from addressing the fear and confusion that followed.
The lack of response left students feeling ignored and unsafe. The absence of any clarity made it seem as though their safety wasn’t a priority. I believe students deserve more than a generic text or email telling them to stay away from the area.
Even if RUPD can’t respond to incidents that fall off the campus borders, they can still keep the students informed and offer support when those incidents happen.
While both departments already communicate through alerts, more proactive measures should be taken, such as making safety protocols clear, patrolling near student housing, and being more transparent after off-campus incidents. This will show that student safety is a shared responsibility, not something divided by jurisdiction lines.
Because when a shooting happens outside a freshman dorm, it’s not “off-campus” anymore. Gun violence doesn’t stop at borders, and neither should accountability.
For comments/questions about this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email [email protected]