For the first 10 months of 2008, crimes in six of seven
major Clery Act categories are down over last year on Eastern
Michigan University's campus. And burglary, the biggest
conundrum in the past, is down 65 percent compared to 2007.
These updates and other campus safety information were
reported at a safety and security forum, hosted by Eastern
Michigan University President Susan Martin and Greg O'Dell,
executive director of the Department of Public Safety,
at the Student Center Dec. 4. Approximately 60 persons
attended.
 |
TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME: Greg O'Dell,
executive director of EMU's Department of
Public
Safety, reviews crime statistics during a
safety
and security forum that took place in the
Student
Center Dec. 4. Here, O'Dell reports that
burglaries
were down 65 percent for the first 10
months of
2008 compared to the same time
period from the
previous year. |
O'Dell and other key EMU staff explained that burglaries
were down (from 105 to 37) significantly because of student
orientation programs, residence hall meetings and door
check programs.
"It's not just about the police, it's everyone," O'Dell
said of EMU's success in lowering campus crime this past
year. "We work with housing. It's a team effort across
the University."
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. Crimes tracked include murder, arson, burglary,
robbery, criminal sexual misconduct, aggravated assault
and motor vehicle theft, hate crimes, and alcohol and drugs.
Eastern Michigan President Susan Martin said she reads
every crime report and is encouraged by the drop in crime
numbers.
"Although we will never be a place that is crime free,
our crimes are down," she said. "As for crimes off campus,
we are working together to solve those crimes. We have
a lot of information. We want to be transparent and open
about what's happening."
O'Dell pointed to new physical upgrades and changes to
the Nightwatch Program that have helped beef up campus
security. Forty additional cameras have been added to the
closed circuit camera system, bringing the total to more
than 250 security cameras on campus. Swipe card security
has been installed in all open residence halls and The
Village. A key card system for individual residence hall
room doors is being explored, he said, And the Nightwatch
Program, in which student security monitor the comings
and goings of persons at the entrances to residence halls,
extended its hours from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.
"We had no burglaries, at all, for the long Thanksgiving
break," O'Dell said. "We check virtually all residence
hall dorm rooms over break."
Becky Figura, EMU's director of housing, said the "Lock
Your Doors" theme is expressed at orientation and residence
hall meetings. She added the "Gotcha Program," in which
DPS officers check residence hall room doors to see whether
they are locked, also has reinforced the message.
"We give (candy) Smarties to students who lock their doors
and give out Dum-Dum lollipops to students who leave their
doors unlocked. Students enjoy that," Figura said.
Incidents of tailgating, in which students open an exterior
building door and let others follow into a building, have
gone down, but still occur, O'Dell said.
"It's not perfect, but NightWatch has helped with that," O'Dell
said.
Crime Stats
Crime in six of seven major Clery Act categories
are down on campus for the first 10 months of 2008
compared to the previous year. Statistics are as
follows:
| Crime |
2007 |
2008 |
| Burglary |
105 |
37 |
| Arson |
6 |
0 |
| Murder/manslaughter |
0 |
0 |
| Robbery |
1 |
4 |
| Criminal sexual assault |
4 |
3 |
| Motor vehicle thefts |
8 |
3 |
| Aggravated assault |
3 |
2 |
|
Andrea Elliott, an area police officer, said she has noticed
a decrease in "propped doors," a practice in which students
use wood chips or rocks to keep building doors propped
open for friends or for when students leave a building,
but plan to return shortly.
On campus, O'Dell said there are now 10 two-person SEEUS
(Student Eyes and Ears for University Safety) teams and
nine contracted security guards that patrol campus. Patrols
have been expanded to the College of Business building
in downtown Ypsilanti.
"These are the highest levels we've ever had," he said
of the non-DPS patrols. "We're getting good information
and security is being used effectively."
Additional safety measures include: additional security
cameras authorized for the Children's Institute and Bowen
Parking Structure; 58 emergency assistance stations; mini
safety and security forums for academic buildings and housing
units; "Active Shooter" video and training is
taking place; and a mass notification public address system
for eight campus buildings is "a few weeks away.
"Eventually, we'll have all buildings and outside areas
wired for PA announcements," O'Dell said.
As of early December, approximately 6,311 EMU faculty,
staff and students had registered for the University's
emergency text alert system, said Pamela Young, director
of University Communications. In the event of an emergency,
such as a fire or a gunman on campus, the University would
alert faculty, staff and students with a text message through
their cell phones and/or an e-mail to their computers.
"We want to get more registered," said Young, who stressed
that the text messages would only be sent in the event
of such an emergency and once a semester as a test. "It's
part of our strategy to be safe."
While much has been done to make EMU safer, O'Dell said
remaining aware of potential crime remains a concern, especially
in a difficulty economy. He said DPS will continue to improve
partnerships with area police agencies and ask for faculty,
staff and students to help as "eyes and ears" for police
officers.
Another safety and security forum is scheduled Wednesday,
Dec. 10, 5:30-7 p.m., in Ballroom B of the Student Center.
