Crime report released by Public Safety

SCSU’s Public Safety Department released the crime report for 2008, which showed consistent numbers reflecting the level of safety on campus.

According to the 2009  Public Safety Department’s A Report to the SCSU Community, most numbers remained consistent from 2006 to 2009, and were comparable to other universities of the same size.

The numbers account for the events that occurred within Public Safety’s jurisdiction, which includes all of campus until the sidewalks cross Fifth Avenue.

Jennifer Furan, security coordinator of SCSU’s Public Safety acknowledged that the population of SCSU ranks within the top 100 cities of Minnesota.    

In comparison, the level of safety is significantly less as compared  with other places with the same amount of inhabitants.

The report also presents that SCSU’s campus property is a safe place, compared with the campus’ immediate neighborhoods and St. Cloud’s surrounding community.

The report shows that from 2007 to 2008, burglaries on campus dropped 29 to 12, liquor law violations dropped 174 to 148, and arrests rose from 202 to 207.

According to Mankato State University’s Campus Report, statistics, which can be found at msu.com/safety, St. Cloud is consistent within their reported numbers.

From 2007 to 2008 their burglaries increased from 13 to 24, alcohol violations dropped from 620 to 493, and arrests rose from 167 to 308.

The one number that took the most dramatic leap in the report was the amount of disciplinary referrals that Pubic Safety was involved with. Disciplinary referrals spiked in 2007 with 1,037 referrals as compared to 2006’s 633 referrals and 2008’s 684 referrals.

These disciplinary referrals are matters that were brought to the attention of public safety in the residence halls and then referred to another department such as Residential Life or Student Life and Development.

These reports include alcohol, drug and other related student disciplinary disturbances.
Furan can only speculate as to what changed in the year of 2007. 

“The largest decrease in the disturbances in the residence halls can be attributed to a combination of different factors,” Furan said. “In the 2008-2009 school year, the residence halls changed the hours that they locked their doors to where students had to check in all residents at the front desk and there was increased staff in the halls.”

She also speculated that the year of 2007 could have just been an anomaly.

Furan said she sees that the 2009 report looks like the alcohol related offenses will mirror 2006 and 2008. 

SCSU and the St. Cloud Drug Task Force began working collaboratively this year, meaning  the numbers in drug violations may decrease from the 2008 report.

According to Furan, all campuses are required by law to release the crime reports every year and they are useful to inform students about what happens around them.

The reports can make them more aware. Not only are these numbers helpful for students, they can be useful for parents of current and prospective students.

The level of safety at SCSU can be attributed to a number of departments who work collaboratively to give students a safe environment.

Because the campus is not perfect, Public Safety uses these numbers to assess what the campus needs to work on.

One area that Furan said she thinks that SCSU students need to pay special attention to is the amounts of thefts that occur on campus.

“Most of the thefts that occur on campus are in places with great public use like the fitness center, the Miller Center and Atwood,” Furan said.

Public Safety is also there for SCSU students at all times and is always available to assist with questions.