Improved security at Fresno State athletic fields

FRESNO, CA—The Fresno State athletic facilities are much safer today than they were last year after a student-athlete’s belongings were stolen.

As a current junior on the men’s track and field team at Fresno State, Jack Kuzminsky is no stranger to the amount of theft that occurs in Fresno.

“Before there were just chain-link fences that anybody could just hop over,” Kuzminsky says. “Now we can put our backpacks down, practice, and then head off to class without worrying about anything being stolen.”

In the past few years, very few barriers enclosed the athletic facilities at all.

But those who work in facilities and event operations at Fresno State are continuing to renovate and improve the athletic facilities with the safety of student-athletes in mind.

“Now they can use their swipe cards and enter through athlete village,” facility and event coordinator, Alex Gutierrez says. “They don’t have to run around on the streets anymore.”

As Assistant Director of Events, part of Julie Querido’s job is to ensure that student-athletes are safe during their events.

While the changes improve safety significantly, Querido says they are just a part of an even bigger plan.

“The first phase of our expansion plan is to add the fences and expand the footprint of the facilities,” Querido says. “But student-athlete safety will always be our top priority.”

Kuzminsky says he really appreciates how well student-athletes are taken care of at Fresno State.

“All the other athletes and my teammates that I’ve talked to already notice the difference,” Kuzminsky says. “It’s nice having one less thing to worry about.”