September 23, 2026 Campus Safety Update

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Vice President for Student Affairs Mari Fuentes-Martin and University Police Department Chief Michael D. Carroll issued this campuswide message on a September 19, 2026 safety incident.

Dear Spartans,

Every Spartan deserves to feel safe, respected, and free to be exactly who they are. Hate and violence have no place at San José State. We are writing to make you aware of the latest information on an assault that happened September 19 on our campus. 

In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 19, one of our students was assaulted near the Dining Commons while walking with friends. One of those friends called the University Police Department (UPD) and officers responded quickly and arrested two suspects. Neither suspect is affiliated with the university.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office today charged the two suspects with hate crimes, alleging they yelled anti-gay slurs at the student during the attack. 

We have been in contact with the student and are providing support. 

As our values remind us, we are committed to justice across every identity and background, and to creating a community where everyone belongs. That commitment means that we support each other the most in moments like this one. 

To our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff, we know news like this can be unsettling. Please know that you belong here, you are valued here, and you do not have to carry this alone.

If you need support, please reach out:

Our teams in Student Affairs and the University Police Department are dedicated to maintaining a safe campus for every Spartan. We’ve worked to decrease violence and crime in our community and encourage everyone to look out for one another. If you ever feel unsafe or see concerning behavior, please contact UPD at 408-924-4222 or through the Spartan Safe app.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe.

With care,

Mari Fuentes-Martin, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

Michael Carroll
Chief of Police