Spike' in University crime stats misleading

Tufts has witnessed rising numbers of alcohol violations and disciplinary referrals, motor vehicle theft, forcible sex offences, hate crimes by prejudice, and aggravated assault on campus and off campus property in the past three years. But despite these number shifts, students insist that they continue to feel safe and have not noticed an appreciable difference in campus atmosphere.

That's because the numbers are misleading, Police Captain Mark Keith said. While the number of reported incidents has gone up over the years, there is a discrepancy between reported and actual occurrences.

Increased awareness is partially responsible for the rise in numbers, Keith said. The Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) event Operation Awareness is now a required part of orientation, and numbers rise when students recognize that they can and should report these crimes. "Students are advised of all the services we have. I think the word is out there," Keith said.

While Tufts cases of reported aggravated assault rose from zero to nine cases in three years, at nearby Brandeis University incidents decreased to zero in the year 2000. Boston College, which is in a similar location but has a much larger student body, had a decrease in aggravated assaults from nine to five from 1999 to 2000. Boston College is, however, a much larger campus with twice the population.

"We're kind of unique," Keith said. "For our size campus, we're in the middle of two cities. We really have an open campus. Which is good in many ways but it lends us to be a bit more vulnerable."

Making these types of comparative evaluations cannot do the numbers justice, Keith explained. "You can't use these statistics for comparison. They just give prospective students and prospective employees an idea of the type of crime" in the area he said.

Despite difficulties in making comparisons, TUPD is required by law to make these numbers available to the public. The 1990 Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, referred to as the Clery Act, obliges federally funded colleges and to make public annual crime statistics. The US Department of Education could fine Tufts up to $25,000 per violation of this law if it failed to comply.

Tufts won the Clery Award for leadership in campus safety programs in 1997.

Police Lieutenant Linda O'Brien said that another reason it is hard to compare statistics over time was due to the recent changes to reporting measures. In the past, Tufts had to report on and off campus incidents. But under the new amendment, universities must now breakdown campus crime, differentiating between on-campus residential, non-residential crime, and crime on off-campus property.

Another big change was reporting disciplinary referrals, O'Brien said. "Now we report any referrals we get to the Dean [of Student's] office _ that makes the numbers spike."

In three consecutive years, 1999-2001, the rising trend in alcohol violations and referrals saw numbers rise from 178 to 190 to 223, respectively. Assistant Dean of Students Veronica Carter said that this could be attributed to reporting style, with the inclusion of off-campus incidents, rather than an increasing trend. "It is more likely that the numbers are remaining constant," Carter said.

In fact, Keith said, he has observed that this year there was a decrease in the first three weeks of classes compared with last year's first three weeks.

There are certain times of the year when crimes seem to spike. "At the beginning of the year we get thefts of bikes and other 'crimes of opportunity,'" Keith said.

To prevent such incidents, TUPD has several programs in place. It produces a bicycle security pamphlet as well as sponsoring "Operation Identification" where personal items can be marked and inventoried to deter theft.

TUPD expressed satisfaction at these services. "Generally, the public here really appreciates our programs," Police Captain of Administrative Services Ronald Brevard said. He added, though, that the department is always seeking to improve. "We're going to step up our efforts to have additional programs," he said.

The success of those programs is mixed, according to some students. "The first year you come, they tell you about the resources you have but I wouldn't know who to call for the escort service," senior Rodrigo Dumont. "Maybe we aren't well enough informed. Right now I can't think of the police phone number."

The blue light phones and panic buttons have been used over the years on several occasions to report active crime, Keith said. But the student escort service, which started last year, was not used and is being scaled down. "You could still call for an officer and have a driving or walking escort at any time _ it just won't be a student," Keith said.

So far, however, those programs have elicited a good response from students. "When you get here, you get the [rape] whistle and you get paranoid. But you stop thinking like that," sophomore Emily Rubinstein said. "Blue light phones are like a security blanket. They're here, they make me feel better."

While students use JumboFob, the Tufts Shuttle, and campus phones on a regular basis, other safety services vary in their usage. "I think it depends on what's going on in and around campus," Keith said. "These services are used more when there have been higher activities of crime."

Some students don't ever require the TUPD's services, by choice or by circumstance. "I've definitely noticed their presence, and it's nice to know that they're there if I do need them," junior Peter Jurczynski said. "But in the heat of the moment I'd be more likely to call 9-1-1."

Overall though, Tufts is a safe campus, Brevard said. "We're taking great strides here over the years with things like the security screens, and lighting on campus. If people utilize our services and take advantage of what there for them, I think they're safe," he said.

Still, though, Brevard would "advise them to be aware of their surroundings at all times.