When parents of today's students were applying to colleges, they researched factors like location, financial aid, and majors. Physical safety was barely on the radar--it was assumed. A lot has changed since then, and today's prospective students and their parents are savvier about campus safety issues. College-age women are the demographic most…

Two Oregon students create a racist profile on a social networking site, with cartoons about lynching and racist language. Other students link to the profile and post ugly, racist comments. Teachers report that many of the school's minority students are frightened. In another instance, several high school students create a "We Hate…