The annual security report led to increased education opportunities for alcohol and drug use, among other improvements. Released on Oct. 1, it requires federally-funded universities to produce their campus crime statistics for the last three years. 

“One of the things that (the report) is intended to do is to have institutions look at their numbers and make appropriate adjustments,” said Dr. Bill Smith, chief communications officer. “That awareness can lead you to improvements that you might need to make.”

These reports are a result of the Clery Act, which was created after the rape and murder of Jeanne Clery, a Lehigh University student, in 1986. Following her death, her parents lobbied for college campuses to be required to report campus crimes. The bill was signed into law in 1990.

To collect the statistics for the report, A-State works with the Counseling Center, University Police, the Environmental Safety Office, the Office of Student Conduct and emergency management. 

“The annual security report has to include statements regarding crime reporting, our campus security and access and our law enforcement authority,” said Heather Brake, director of student conduct. “(It also includes) evidence on alcohol and drug use and the prevention of and response to sexual assault, domestic or dating violence and stalking.”

The information collected in these reports has led to safety and awareness improvements at A-State in the past. Smith said several years ago, A-State saw an increase in late night car burglaries. 

“That gave us a good indicator that we probably needed to increase the cameras and the lights,” Smith said. “We needed to work on parking lot lights, because these (crimes) seem to be happening in the evening. That’s how (the report) leads you to those kinds of conclusions.”

Brake said in the past year, the Office of Student Conduct worked to create more education and awareness for alcohol and drug use as a result of the report. 

“We now have a seminar that’s open to students that have not been seen by our office and students that have been seen by our office for those violations,” Brake said. “We try to reeducate individuals on being found responsible criminally for alcohol (or drug) violations. We have to set our students up for success and success means knowing the ramifications of your decisions.”

“We’ve seen an increase in Title IX incident reports,” said Perdeta Bush, director of Title IX and institutional equity. “I am okay with an increase in incident reports because that means that people are reporting, so the faculty, staff and students can get their support and resources that they need.”

Smith said the statistics are often reflective of social trends or governmental changes. 

“If you look back into our safety report and every university in the state of Arkansas, there is a hockey stick spike one year for alcohol violations,” Smith said. “It’s the year that the state of Arkansas changed the minor-in-possession law down to 0.02.”

Smith added that campus crime statistics were greatly reduced in 2020 due to COVID-19. 

“It’s important that you as a student know what we’re doing as university to try to make sure that you’re safe here on campus,” Brake said. “(The report) is also a place for you to be aware of your resources.”

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