Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter
The numbers are in. Chief Dooley said the campus police force and faculty are working hard to decrease the few offenses that have increased since 2013’s edition of the Clery Report was released and crime in general in the university. This year’s edition of the Clery Report that was recently released includes campus statistics from 2011-2013.
“We are all making a steady effort to keep this campus a safe one for the students to be on,” said Dooley.
Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Tracy Tyree, sent out a mass email to raise awareness of the university’s drug & alcohol policy. There was a five case increase in the number of total drug abuse violations that required Disciplinary action over the past year. All of the occurrences happened on campus and were part of the raised apprehension among faculty, according to Tyree.
“Southern Connecticut State University is a community concerned about the health and welfare of its members and committed to providing support and guidance so that all members of the campus community may lead healthy and productive lives,” said Tyree.
“The Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 requires that all institutions of higher education adopt and implement an alcohol and drug prevention program to deter the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on institutional premises or as part of any of its activities, said Tyree.
“Drug and alcohol prevention programs sponsored by the University are coordinated by the Drug and Alcohol Resource Center, located in Schwartz Hall,” said Tyree. “The Drug and Alcohol Resource Center (DARC) also serves as the campus resource for students seeking information and personal assistance for substance abuse.”
Liquor violations on campus, in total, have decreased from 373 cases to 308, which marks some progress, but the campus’ effort is not over, said Dooley. The campus growth does not go unnoticed as more than 150,000 students develop an alcohol-related health problem, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The campus policies are public and can be viewed in the SCSU Student Handbook, which can be found in the Office of the Dean of Students (A106 Engleman) or on the Southern Connecticut website.
The university aims to improve the quality of experience from year to year and are requesting the input from its students on all matters on campus in order to accommodate their needs, said Dooley.
“We have increased the amount of visibility our around campus in order to continue to build a relationship with the students,” said Dooley. “In contrast to what a lot of students think, we are not here to give them a hard time.”
Dooley acknowledged the crime on campus and offered a list of tips to assure students’ safety and the protection of their belongings.
“Do not walk alone, Use well-traveled and lit areas, Do not take short cuts or walk through isolated areas such as the cemetery, always be aware of your surroundings and lock door and windows, if you feel something is wrong – Trust your instincts, report suspicious activity to University Police at 203-392-5375 or call 911, utilize emergency blue phones if necessary, use campus shuttles, ensure your profile information on the Southern Alert is correct and up-to-date, protect your valuables and do not leave unattended or in plain sight in vehicles,” said Dooley. “The students safety is our number one priority.”