For the first half of 2008, crime on Eastern Michigan
University's campus has dropped 10 percent overall, with
crimes stable or down in six of nine major categories that
fall under reporting measures of the Clery Act.
A rash of breaking and entering crimes in 2007 has been
reduced 75 percent, with only 12 such crimes reported thus
far this year compared to 48 at this time in 2007.
"We are pretty pleased with the initial numbers for the
first six months of the year," said Greg O'Dell, EMU's
executive director of public safety. "We're also very pleased
that break-ins were down significantly."
 |
BIKE PATROLS: This Eastern Michigan
University
police officer patrols near the
Student Center
and Lake House. The
Department of Public Safety
has increased
its visibility on campus and provided
more
information about safety and campus
crime
reports. These measures and others
have helped
reduce crime by 10 percent
for the first six months
of 2008 over the
same period last year. |
One key factor in reducing break-ins occurred last year
after DPS identified a number of students involved in a
rash of such crimes. The students were subsequently expelled,
O'Dell said.
"I certainly think that had an impact in the reduction
of break-ins," he said.
Still, limiting those particular crimes comes down to
students taking the necessary precautions, including locking
their dorm rooms when they leave.
"That's one of the areas we'll really concentrate on in
the fall. We'll have a big push to have students lock their
dorm rooms and windows," O'Dell said.
The three Clery Act crime areas that increased were aggravated
assault (from zero to one), sex offenses-forcible (from
one to two) and robbery (from one to three). But the percentage
increase is skewed because there were so few of these types
of crimes to begin with.
The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that
participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and
disclose information about crime on or near their respective
campuses. Compliance is monitored by the U.S. Department
of Education.
For June, the most recent month reported, total crimes
were down 27 percent overall from June 2007.
"We don't want to jump to any conclusions" about the numbers,
O'Dell said, citing the year is only a little more than
half over. Still, he added, "We're pleased with the numbers
to date. We hope it continues (downward)."
