To be a student at Cleveland State University is to live a constant contradiction – a campus embedded in a city, a somewhat porous walled city in its own right, but one governed in most cases by a plastic ID access card.

Entry to buildings like the Monte Ahuja College of Business, the Levin College of Urban Affairs and Music and Communication (except for concert venues) requires a Viking Card – a piece of plastic with a headshot that every student carries, granting the ability to enter and exit the buildings.

These spaces are controlled – quiet, secure and limited to students, faculty and staff. But just steps away, the Cleveland State Student Center operates differently.

Unlike most academic buildings, the Student Center is open to the public.

Those open doors reflect the reality of CSU as an urban university, but they also raise questions among students about safety, accessibility and what it means to share space with the broader Cleveland and beyond community. The CSU Police Department is the key to making this work.

“The Student Center is designed to be a welcoming space for students, staff, visitors and members of the community,” said Chief Beverly J. Pettrey, head of Cleveland State University Police.

Pettrey said the building’s accessibility does not mean it is without security. Instead, CSU relies on what she describes as a “layered” approach: campus police patrols, safety ambassadors, security cameras and coordination with building staff.

A CSU Police Department hub located on the first floor allows officers to respond quickly to incidents and also serves as a deterrent, Chief Pettrey said.

Still, the contrast between secured academic buildings and the open Student Center is noticeable.

Because it is one of the few large public-facing buildings downtown that does not require ID for entry, the space often attracts non-students, including the general public and members of Cleveland’s unhoused population. It is not uncommon to see individuals resting in the same areas where students study or eat between classes.

A warm space in the winter

Scott said he spent time in the Student Center intermittently throughout the cold winter months. He said he found the building by chance while traveling through Ohio from Sandusky. After getting a ride into downtown Cleveland, he said he tried the doors and found them unlocked, promising a warm place to escape the frigid weather.

“It’s just somewhere safe to be,” Scott said, adding that he comes and goes, primarily seeking warmth during colder days.

Pettrey said simply being present in a public building is not a violation of university policy.

“Public buildings can sometimes attract individuals who are seeking a warm or safe place to be,” she said. “However, our officers regularly check the building and address situations if someone is sleeping, creating a disruption or entering areas where they are not permitted.”

Scott said his experience inside the building has largely been uneventful. Occasionally, he encounters pushback from others or interactions with campus police, but he noted those situations are infrequent.

“As long as I’m not bothering anybody, it’s usually fine,” he said.

Scott said he is typically required to leave the building by 10 p.m., but returns when he needs shelter from the weather.

The university does not track every individual who enters the Student Center. Instead, campus safety relies on observation and response. If someone attempts to access restricted areas, such as classrooms or offices, police intervene.

“Our officers and building staff are trained to observe activity and address concerns quickly if something appears out of place,” Pettrey said, adding that students are encouraged to report suspicious behavior through campus police or the RAVE Guardian app.

Not just safety, but identity too

For many students, the issue is not just about safety, but about identity.

CSU’s compact campus is often seen as one of its strengths. Its downtown layout allows students to move easily between classes, coffee shops and study spaces, creating a close-knit feel uncommon for a commuter school.

But that same layout means the boundary between campus and city is nearly invisible.

At CSU, the sidewalk is the campus. Students move between secured buildings while also navigating the realities of the city.

The presence of the general community in the Student Center is a contentious topic. Some students view it as a safety concern or question whether their tuition should guarantee more restricted spaces. Others see it as an unavoidable – and even important – part of attending a public university in an urban environment.

Pettrey said CSU works to balance those competing expectations.

“Public universities are meant to be open, welcoming and accessible spaces,” she said. “At the same time, safety is always our top priority.”

Security presence in the Student Center increases during busy periods, evenings and events, according to Pettrey. Officers are typically able to respond to incidents within minutes due to their on-campus presence.The university also maintains emergency protocols, including coordination with city police, fire and EMS, as well as campus-wide alert systems.
 

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“Universities across the country, including ours, regularly evaluate access control practices,” Pettrey said. “Any future changes would be based on safety needs and campus input.”

As CSU continues to assess its security policies, the Student Center remains a symbol of the university’s dual identity, a campus and a part of the city itself.

For students, that means navigating not just classrooms and coursework, but the realities of an urban environment, where the line between the CSU community and the public is blurred.