Policing the Campus: Police Communications and near-Campus Development across Atlanta’s University Communities

Abstract

Abstract Research on anchor institutions and studentification largely neglects U.S. universities’ police, who often have legal arrest powers as well as firearms. Using mobile GIS methods, this paper investigates how police communications shape campus neighborhoods in two different U.S. universities: Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University. Police communications through Clery Act notices amplify racist discourse about crime fears, but more so at the predominately white institution with non-local students. Notices can increase neighborhood stigma and alter student behaviors. The paper highlights how Clery notices may affect neighborhood property values through amplifying stigma, and the actions U.S. academics may take to shape police at their universities.