Public Safety responds to ‘Campus Security and Fire Safety Report’
By: Byron Hoskinson – Staff Writer
While crime on college campuses is nothing new, how it’s tracked and fought is a constantly evolving process, especially at the University of Dayton.
Annually published by the Department of Public Safety, the “Campus Security and Fire Safety Report” discloses vital information regarding campus crime and safety from the three previous calendar years and sets out university policies as well as resources for campus community members, according to the report.
In line with the university’s efforts to curtail criminal activity and ensure student safety on campus, the 2014 report has expanded its coverage of sexual harassment and now contains new categories for tracking domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, according to Randall Groesbeck, author of the report and public safety director of administration and security.
Groesbeck said the report also contains new policy statements to correspond with the new crime categories. These policies cover the university’s “comprehensive plan” for addressing sexual misconduct, education and prevention programs and handling of sexual harassment cases, according to the report.
“The University of Dayton has made a pretty significant commitment to the prevention of sexual violence on our campus,” Groesbeck said.
He said the university’s focus on sexual harassment is warranted for several reasons.
“It’s an underreported crime and it’s one that UD has paid great attention to,” Groesbeck said. “The university has been very proactive in their sexual assault prevention measures.”
Groesbeck said recent measures include the Green Dot initiative and the creation of the Sexual Violence Prevention Education Office, the latter of which works alongside other on-campus resources and personnel to aid students who have been victims of, or have been affected by, instances of sexual misconduct.
“A green dot is any choice, behavior, word or attitude that promotes safety for everyone and communicates utter intolerance for power-based personal violence in our University of Dayton community,” according to the university’s Green Dot website.
Green Dot presentations are held throughout the year to encourage students to intervene in potentially high-risk situations and “promote a culture of community accountability where bystanders are actively engaged in the prevention of violence without causing further harm,” according to the report.
Groesbeck cited the university’s establishment of a sexual violence prevention education coordinator position within the division of student development as another proactive measure in combating sexual harassment on campus.
“UD has taken the step of employing a full-time coordinator to work with student groups and staff members to provide education about sexual assault prevention,” Groesbeck said.
Groesbeck said a perennial safety concern is alcohol-related violations of the law. In 2013, there were 888 liquor law violations, 77 of which resulted in an arrest, according to the crime statistics page of the report.
“Liquor law violation continues to be problematic,” Groesbeck said. “It’s the largest statistic on the chart and [public safety] will continue to address alcohol issues as it has in the past.”
A PDF version of the 93-page report can be found at udayton.edu/publicsafety/campus_crime_reporting. Students can also view a physical copy of the current or prior eight reports at the public safety office on the first floor of Fitz Hall.