The recently released Annual Security Report shows that while the number of forcible sex offenses has decreased over the past three years, liquor law violations and robberies are on the rise at AU.
Public Safety compiles the report, which details crime policy, prevention, reporting and statistics every year in accordance with the Campus Security Act. The statistics in the report are derived from crimes reported to various agencies on campus, such as the Counseling Center, the Student Health Center and Kay Spiritual Life Center.
The 284 liquor violations cited in 2005 were a slight decrease from the 294 cited in 2004. However, violations have spiked from the 200 cited in 2003.
"I honestly don't know if [the increase] is a case of more drinking or a case of enforcement," said Nick Johnson, a senior in the School of Communication and director of the Student Advocacy Center. SAC helps students who have been charged with violations prepare defenses.
Sgt. Maurice Carter of Public Safety agreed with Johnson.
"It's very hard to speculate on if more students are drinking or not based on our statistics," he said.
Carter also said the purpose of Public Safety is for the safety of the students, and most enforcement of liquor policy is done by Resident Assistants and Resident Directors in the residential facilities.
"Public Safety's responsibility is to make sure students are safe, not so much as an enforcer, but if there have been school codes violated we are obligated to charge the student," Carter said.
Amanda Boxer, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, said she thinks Public Safety is acting as a better law enforcement body.
"I think the campus police are enforcing things more and taking things more seriously," she said.
The report includes details from on-campus violations and violations referred to Public Safety by the Metropolitan Police Department. Therefore, students caught in violation of liquor laws at off-campus parties can receive a judicial referral from the university. However, Public Safety doesn't make any exerted effort to prevent parties, particularly if they're off campus, Carter said.
Liquor law violations are not the only crimes reported at AU.
"Theft is always our big cookie that we want to chip away at," Carter said.
Because theft tends to be widespread on college campuses, Public Safety tries to examine the trends and crack down on specific types of theft. Public Safety recently apprehended some people they believe were connected to a spike in laptop theft, which has since decreased, Carter said.
On-campus sex offenses, which are defined as sexual acts against a person's will, have declined. However, "any one [offense] is really a big deal for anyone involved," Carter said.
The report only includes offenses through the end of 2005. As for 2006, Carter said it is still too early to tell if these trends will continue, and there are always more problems at the beginning of the year.
Johnson agreed, but said when the 2006 numbers come out next year, some people may be surprised by the statistics on some of the more serious crimes, but declined to elaborate because of confidentiality reasons.
Key numbers from the report:
Liquor violations: In 2003, there were 200 on-campus liquor law violations. These numbers have risen to 294 in 2004 and 284 in 2005.
Burglary: Burglary has also increased. In 2003, there were 32 on-campus burglaries; in 2004, they took a slight drop to 29. However, burglaries increased to 41 for 2005.
Sex crimes: Sexual offenses have decreased. From five on-campus forcible sexual offenses in 2003, the numbers have gone down to three and one in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
SOURCE: Annual Security Report
