Two incidents concerning domestic violence occurred on April 6 at Ventura and Oxnard College campuses, calling to light the dangerous potentials of abuse and stalking that endanger students.

James Botting, the college district’s chief of police, said that the incident this April were both domestic disputes that were played out on campus. This is a problem that police deal with frequently, but nonetheless take very seriously.

“Usually what happens is that domestic violence carries into the work place or educational institutions,” Botting said. “Arguments can escalate into sometimes even physical altercations.”

Often, police receive limited evidence to indicate the developing situations that may put students in danger. Botting said that the campus police are developing a program which will protect students and train them to recognize situations in which they may become victims.

“People need to recognize what could potentially become a situation of abuse or stalking, before it develops and escalates,” Botting said, explaining the main goal that campus police initiatives are working to accomplish.

“There is a tremendous potential for abuse,” Botting explained, and often victims do not recognize that a problematic situation

is developing until it has become more severe and usually dangerous.

Campus police can issue varies types of “protective orders”, which are meant to serve as an immediate, temporary solution

to protect the victim until an actual restraining order can be obtained from court.

“The protective-orders are usually issued because of reported harassment or resulting from physical alternations,” Botting said.

Currently, there are many of these temporary orders protecting individuals at all three campuses.

“It doesn’t have to be a romantic

relationship gone bad,” said Botting, but this is most often the root of stalking cases that involve students in the district.

Although no criminal activity has been posted by Moorpark campus police so far in April, Botting explained that many small-scale problems do occur which are accidental and traffic-related.

“Moorpark campus is pretty quiet,” Botting said. “They have a lot of traffic problems due to the new design of the parking lots.”

The design of the main student parking lot at Moorpark College was recently repainted to position parking spaces at a 90 degree angel in rows. Botting theorized that this makes it a lot harder for drivers who are backing out of a spot to see oncoming drivers coming up the isles, and vice versa.

Ventura College

Apr. 6: Campus police received a report indicating battery to a female student occurring after 1 p.m. outside of room 308 of the SCI building. Police contacted

the student, who explained that the incident was related to a former acquaintance. The police provided the student with a Temporary

Emergency Restraining Order, and a Domestic Violence report was filed.

Apr. 8: Graffiti was found inside the men’s restroom in the F-building on campus.

Apr. 12: Graffiti was found in the men’s restroom in the Athletic

Center.

Apr. 16: Graffiti was found on the doors of room 222 and room 351 of the SCI building on campus.

Oxnard College:

Apr. 6: Police patrolling campus

at about 3:30 p.m. noticed a male and female arguing, and interceded by identifying and contacting the two people, who were later given counseling.