The Collegian

The Collegian is the student newspaper of San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. The paper is published six times a semester.

As a First Amendment newspaper we pride ourselves on a commitment to the students of Delta College while maintaining independence.

We reinvigorate the credo that the newspaper speaks for the students, checks abuses of power and stands vigilant in the protection of democracy and free speech.

of hostile architecture, clearly intended to prevent anyone from sleeping in those areas,” said The HomeMore Project, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that aims to provide shelter and resources to houseless people.

Some present strategies currently used to design hostile architecture are derived from the design philosophy of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).

“Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach of crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments,” says The International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association website.

“CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas, reduce crime and minimize fear of crime.”

Taking away seating or changing design to be uncomfortable in order to keep certain people away can lead to other groups being affected as well. Those with disabilities, the elderly and the pregnant will be significantly affected by this architectural design.

Hostile architecture may be seen by some to encourage those who are houseless to seek out shelters, but shelters often fill up. Those who can’t get a bed at a shelter or may feel unsafe in one are left with fewer options for safe shelter for the night.

The use of hostile architecture can be seen as dehumanizing as it tries to ward out “undesirable” behavior, making houseless people feel unwanted.

“People experiencing homelessness already face hardships and obstacles that only continue to marginalize them. Hostile architecture is dehumanizing and unethical,” said HomeMore’s website.

Creating hostile architecture does not fix the problem of houselessness, just as it does not prevent skateboarders or people from littering; it just creates more problems for individuals who don’t need them.