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October 11, 2005
Editorial: Words do not reflect secuity’s statistics
The Office of Safety and Security released their annual crime statistics and policies report last week.
The policies section, which comprises seven pages of the 10 page report, contains stern warnings aimed at preventing crime.
Phrases like “The use of Security Escort Service is strongly encouraged,” and “Physical Plant staff continuously trims and maintains campus greenery in such a way that it does not cause dark or hidden areas that students may have to walk through” make it sound like perpetrators are hidden in every shadow. The other residential life recommendations read in a similar manner.
The statistics read otherwise. Crimes, both on and off campus, are on the decline, some over 50 percent.
Violent crimes motivated by offenders’ bias are flat lining at zero. In the 10 listed categories, only one such crime has been reported in the past three years, a case of arson in 2002.
Such wordings are attempting to strike fear in our hearts. Eventually, these tactics are forgotten, and students become immune to them. We ignore the warnings, because we know better. We are not infested with crime.
Despite its shortcomings, the report does give positive reenforcement to victims of sexual assaults. It lists the university’s zero tolerance policy towards such acts, lists victims rights gives instructions on what victims should do after a sexual assault.
We value the job Safety and Security does, but give us a break. We are more intelligent than that.
Posted by msveum at October 11, 2005 11:38 PM
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