2008 Woodie Awards
Clery Report - reviewing campus safety
Ashley Mackin
Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Humboldt State University released the 2006 Clery Report on Oct.1. The Report accounts for reported crimes on campus property, such as the residence halls. University Police Chief Tom Dewey describes the Report as "a comprehensive report of all procedures at [Humboldt State] about safety and security."
For some, the report offers something to think about: the safety status of the Humboldt campus. There are statistics for reported crimes, as well as what is on the rise. In looking at these reports and increases, how does Humboldt compare to a school like Cal State University Long Beach? Whether or not this campus is safe depends on who is asked.
The report is named after a 19-year-old Jeanne Clery, from Leigh University in Pennsylvania. She was murdered as she slept in her residence hall room in 1986. It includes crimes of murder, sexual offenses, burglary, and others.
Since 2002, on Humboldt State's campus, there have been noticeable increases in drug violations, burglary, and sexual offenses.
Chief Dewey said there was a change in what counts as a drug violation and how to report it, which would explain the jump in disciplinary referrals for drug violations. In 2003, there were 12 reports on campus - in 2004, there were 119.
Additionally, the jump in burglaries is attributed to an individual, random circumstance. In 2006, there were 19 reported burglaries - but 14 of them were from one event. Dewey said, "Someone broke into the University Annex one night, and kicked in 14 doors. Each of those doors counts as one burglary."
Unfortunately, there has also been an increase in sexual offenses since 2002. For the Clery report, sexual offenses include attempted rape, forcible fondling, statutory rape, and the like.
Since 2002, crimes committed in the residence halls are included within the count for on campus crimes. In 2002, there were two sexual offenses reported on campus. In 2003, there weren't any. However, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, there were seven in each year.
On Oct. 31, 2004, a woman was attacked while jogging in Redwood Bowl, and it was reported as an attempted rape. She fought off her attacker.
In a rape on campus, a woman was forced into her car and assaulted on April 4, 2006. The University Police has yet to recognize this incidence as a rape, but a general sexual assualt.
The most outstanding violation on this campus is drug and alcohol referrals and arrests. In the residence halls alone between 2002 and 2006, the total number of liquor law arrests and referrals for liquor law violations is 245. The drug law arrests and referrals for drug law violations for those same years in the residence halls total 748.
As for the high numbers of alcohol and marijuana reports, these students do not seem too bothered. Geography junior Arnold King said, "No one who smokes [marijuana] has tried to hurt me." Psychology junior Teresa Schrader said, "People can get violent with alcohol, but marijuana doesn't hurt anyone in general."
Since the residence halls count as a portion of the on-campus reports, the total numbers are even higher. No patterns of the past five years would suggest there are any crimes on the decline.
King said he feels safe on campus because what he considers a crime is not active here. "I worry about my safety and the safety of my property, but I'm pleased with campus security."
Despite the rise in certain crimes, many would call this campus safe. Chief Dewey said the campus is "relatively safe." However, it depends on the person's relation to any given crime.
"If the crime happens to you or someone you know, it can be devastating," he said, "but if it doesn't, people take notice, but don't feel compelled to act."
University Police officer Kris Mechals agrees about the safety of the campus. "I do feel its safe," she said. "With 10,000 people on campus including students, faculty, and staff, it's a city in itself, one in which our [crime] statistics are very low."
However, some students, such as Schrader only feel safe during the day. "I get jumpy at night, since there is not enough lighting." She also said she worries about the amount of protection on campus.
The statistics for violent crimes at Humboldt are comparably low. California State University Long Beach's Report shows higher numbers of motor vehicle thefts. However, their drug and alcohol reports are less than Humboldt State's.
In 2006, there were 29 drug abuse violations on Long Beach's campus, 12 of them in the residence halls, and 26 of them on public property. Compared to the 77 on Humboldt State's campus, 76 of those from within the residence halls.
However, two crimes are more violent at Long Beach, with higher numbers. There were 58 motor vehicle thefts in 2006, and four sexual assault/ rape reports. Chief Dewey said, "The thing you have to keep in mind is how many more students they have at [CSU] Long Beach."
"At one point, there were women getting grabbed on the Long Beach campus," he said, "so they had to hire outside help from police offers, mostly because the campus is so close to an urban area."
Mechals said she feels the advantages of having few calls regarding threats to personal safety (what she defines as a serious crime) is the time for investigations. "Calls for service don't keep us swamped," she said. "We can spend more investigating and being a part of the campus and being proactive."
Ashley Mackin can be reached at amackin8@gmail.com
SIDEBAR: The Clery Report must include all reports of: robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, manslaughter, arson, murder, sexual offenses.
It must also include current campus policies regarding: campus law enforcement, procedures for students to report crime or emergency, security and access to campus.
A description of programs designed to inform the campus population (students and faculty) about crime prevention and campus security procedures.
For some, the report offers something to think about: the safety status of the Humboldt campus. There are statistics for reported crimes, as well as what is on the rise. In looking at these reports and increases, how does Humboldt compare to a school like Cal State University Long Beach? Whether or not this campus is safe depends on who is asked.
The report is named after a 19-year-old Jeanne Clery, from Leigh University in Pennsylvania. She was murdered as she slept in her residence hall room in 1986. It includes crimes of murder, sexual offenses, burglary, and others.
Since 2002, on Humboldt State's campus, there have been noticeable increases in drug violations, burglary, and sexual offenses.
Chief Dewey said there was a change in what counts as a drug violation and how to report it, which would explain the jump in disciplinary referrals for drug violations. In 2003, there were 12 reports on campus - in 2004, there were 119.
Additionally, the jump in burglaries is attributed to an individual, random circumstance. In 2006, there were 19 reported burglaries - but 14 of them were from one event. Dewey said, "Someone broke into the University Annex one night, and kicked in 14 doors. Each of those doors counts as one burglary."
Unfortunately, there has also been an increase in sexual offenses since 2002. For the Clery report, sexual offenses include attempted rape, forcible fondling, statutory rape, and the like.
Since 2002, crimes committed in the residence halls are included within the count for on campus crimes. In 2002, there were two sexual offenses reported on campus. In 2003, there weren't any. However, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, there were seven in each year.
On Oct. 31, 2004, a woman was attacked while jogging in Redwood Bowl, and it was reported as an attempted rape. She fought off her attacker.
In a rape on campus, a woman was forced into her car and assaulted on April 4, 2006. The University Police has yet to recognize this incidence as a rape, but a general sexual assualt.
The most outstanding violation on this campus is drug and alcohol referrals and arrests. In the residence halls alone between 2002 and 2006, the total number of liquor law arrests and referrals for liquor law violations is 245. The drug law arrests and referrals for drug law violations for those same years in the residence halls total 748.
As for the high numbers of alcohol and marijuana reports, these students do not seem too bothered. Geography junior Arnold King said, "No one who smokes [marijuana] has tried to hurt me." Psychology junior Teresa Schrader said, "People can get violent with alcohol, but marijuana doesn't hurt anyone in general."
Since the residence halls count as a portion of the on-campus reports, the total numbers are even higher. No patterns of the past five years would suggest there are any crimes on the decline.
King said he feels safe on campus because what he considers a crime is not active here. "I worry about my safety and the safety of my property, but I'm pleased with campus security."
Despite the rise in certain crimes, many would call this campus safe. Chief Dewey said the campus is "relatively safe." However, it depends on the person's relation to any given crime.
"If the crime happens to you or someone you know, it can be devastating," he said, "but if it doesn't, people take notice, but don't feel compelled to act."
University Police officer Kris Mechals agrees about the safety of the campus. "I do feel its safe," she said. "With 10,000 people on campus including students, faculty, and staff, it's a city in itself, one in which our [crime] statistics are very low."
However, some students, such as Schrader only feel safe during the day. "I get jumpy at night, since there is not enough lighting." She also said she worries about the amount of protection on campus.
The statistics for violent crimes at Humboldt are comparably low. California State University Long Beach's Report shows higher numbers of motor vehicle thefts. However, their drug and alcohol reports are less than Humboldt State's.
In 2006, there were 29 drug abuse violations on Long Beach's campus, 12 of them in the residence halls, and 26 of them on public property. Compared to the 77 on Humboldt State's campus, 76 of those from within the residence halls.
However, two crimes are more violent at Long Beach, with higher numbers. There were 58 motor vehicle thefts in 2006, and four sexual assault/ rape reports. Chief Dewey said, "The thing you have to keep in mind is how many more students they have at [CSU] Long Beach."
"At one point, there were women getting grabbed on the Long Beach campus," he said, "so they had to hire outside help from police offers, mostly because the campus is so close to an urban area."
Mechals said she feels the advantages of having few calls regarding threats to personal safety (what she defines as a serious crime) is the time for investigations. "Calls for service don't keep us swamped," she said. "We can spend more investigating and being a part of the campus and being proactive."
Ashley Mackin can be reached at amackin8@gmail.com
SIDEBAR: The Clery Report must include all reports of: robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, manslaughter, arson, murder, sexual offenses.
It must also include current campus policies regarding: campus law enforcement, procedures for students to report crime or emergency, security and access to campus.
A description of programs designed to inform the campus population (students and faculty) about crime prevention and campus security procedures.
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