Checking in

I talked to all Big 12 schools (except the University of Texas, who I had already heard from) about responses to my survey that I sent out about a week ago. I expect at least two or three more schools to give me their email responses by Monday, and perhaps more than that. After another week of grace period, I'll compile a document that compares and contrasts the responses for each Big 12 school. Thanks to the schools that have responded and will respond to the campus security survey.

Tom Karst

Eastern Michigan pays $350,000 fine for violations of Clery Act

The consequences are serious indeed for violations of the Clery Act. From the Student Press Law Center:

Eastern Michigan University will pay $350,000 in federal fines for failing to disclose crime information in violation of the Clery Act, the largest such fine ever.

"We're pleased to have arrived at an agreement with the [U.S. Department of Education] and we appreciate their recognition of the progress and improvements that EMU has made during the past year in regards to Clery Act Compliance," said university provost and executive vice president Don Loppnow in a press release issued Friday.

The $350,000 is slightly less than the original $357,500 fine proposed by the DOE in a Dec. 14 letter to the university. Within the letter, the DOE called the university's conduct an "egregious violation, which endangered the entire EMU campus community."

EMU was cited for 13 violations stemming from the investigation that followed the death of Laura Dickinson in her Hill Residence Hall room in December 2006. The violations range from failing to issue a timely warning to the campus community in the Dickinson case to failing to properly disclose crime statistics. Some of the violations dated back as far as 2003.

In addition to the DOE fines, the university agreed to settle a civil lawsuit with the Dickinson family for $2.5 million, according to the Ann Arbor News.

On Dec. 15, 2006, custodian Michelle Lockwood found Dickinson dead in her room. At the second murder trial of Orange Taylor III, Lockwood testified that she found a woman, later identified as Dickinson, lying on the floor, naked from the waist down. Taylor was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

The EMU police department "immediately determined the death to be suspicious in nature," the DOE said. But a day after Dickinson's body was found the university issued a statement saying there was "no reason to suspect foul play."

In addition, the June 2007 DOE report concluded that the university did not provide "relevant information to the campus community that would alert it of a potential safety threat." The report cites this failing as a clear violation of the Clery Act.

The Clery Act is a federal law that requires any university taking federal money to disclose information about crime on campus, including annual statistics and "timely warnings" to the campus community about serious ongoing threats.

The misleading public report in the Dickinson case led to the dismissal of then-university president John Fallon and the ouster of two other officials. Fallon has filed a lawsuit against the university claiming his rights were violated under the Michigan Whistleblowers Protection Act.

By Rob Arcamona, SPLC staff writer

Response - Baylor University

From Baylor University:

Mr. Karst:

In response to your questions, I am providing the following information:

1.
Baylor.edu/Baylor_Police then click on ‘Clery Act’, then click on ‘Camus Crime statistics’ in column on left side of page.

2. Same as above and then click on ‘Crime Log’ on screen to the left side of page.

3. Baylor.edu/Baylor_Police, then click on ‘Clery Act’, then click on Alcohol and Drug Policy….this will take you to the site.

4. Applying common sense principles and fundamentally removing the opportunity for crime to occur.

5. We have only State of Texas certified police officers who are all armed. No security guards are employed. The university prohibits anyone from carrying a concealed handgun on campus. State law also prohibits the carrying of a gun inside a campus facility.

6. I have no powerpoint or other materials to provide. The biggest single contributor to overall student safety is the advent of the electronic card swipe entry into residence halls. Very effective in keeping undesirables out of buildings.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Jim Doak, Chief
Baylor University
Police Department
254-710-2222

Taking stock

Thanks to the University of Texas for their prompt response to my query. I've heard from one other campus security director who said their responses are coming. I'll probably send out an email on Thursday to remind everyone of the June 6 deadline.

I think these responses will eventually be of use and considerable value to thousands of parents and students in Big 12 country.

Additional information - University of Texas

From the University of Texas, additional perspective on my query:

Good Morning,

My name is William Pieper. I am a crime prevention specialist with The University of Texas at Austin Police Department. I am sure you have already heard form my partner in crime…prevention that is, Officer Halstead, regarding your questions. I wanted to provide some additional information or simply reinforce what Officer Halstead has provided. Please see the attached document with my responses.

Be Safe!

William R. Pieper

Crime Prevention Officer

Office: 512-232-9638

Fax: 512- 471-7505

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure

”Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.”

-Albert Einstein

1. How can students and parents find out about campus crime statistics at your school? (Please provide Web link)

The Vice President for Student Affairs with The University of Texas at Austin also sends out a brochure on an annual basis. The brochure is entitled The University of Texas at Austin: What You Need To Know. The brochure includes information on campus security and crime awareness, selected campus policies and reports, and the policy mandating the campus as a drug free university. The brochure lists the following web addresses:

Campus Security and Crime Awareness: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security

The University’s policies concerning privacy: http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi06-07/app/appc09/html

The University’s policy regarding illicit drugs: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/drugfree/index.html

Information for Students with Disabilities: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd/

Information pertaining to registered sex offenders: http://www.utexas.edu/police/alerts/sex_offenders.html

The brochure also contains text regarding university standards of conduct which includes drug and alcohol information, offenses, penalties (federal, state and university penalties) and information for available counseling and rehabilitation.

2. Where can students and parents find recent daily campus police logs at your school? (Please provide Web link)

In addition to the Campus Watch, anyone is free to visit the police department to review the daily police blog that lists crimes reported to or observed by the police department.

3. Does your university have a stated policy on illegal alcohol and drug use? If so, what is your policy?

The University of Texas at Austin does have a stated policy regarding illegal alcohol use and drug use on campus. This policy can be researched at http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/drugfree/conduct.html

4. What the single most important factor in the ability of students to avoid being victimized by personal and property crimes at your school?

Knowledge is key: students need to know what the risks are, how to recognize a potential problem and how to prevent or avoid crimes as they arise. The police department offers a variety of crime prevention seminars and posts prevention information on their web-site.

5. Do your security officers carry weapons? Does your university have a stated position on concealed carry by students or faculty?

The police officers with The University of Texas at Austin Police Department are commissioned peace officers and do carry side arms. State law in Texas prohibits citizens from carrying any prohibited weapons on campus.

6. What's the single most significant change to campus/residence hall security policies or procedures in the past five years? Please provide a link or email any helpful PowerPoint presentations on student security, if possible.

The police department routinely trains with Housing and Food Staff which allows the two departments to develop good working ties. The crime prevention office also provides the resident assistants with a variety of programs and literature to provide them with a good base knowledge for creating a crime free environme

Additional information - University of Texas

From the University of Texas, additional perspective on my query:

Good Morning,

My name is William Pieper. I am a crime prevention specialist with The University of Texas at Austin Police Department. I am sure you have already heard form my partner in crime…prevention that is, Officer Halstead, regarding your questions. I wanted to provide some additional information or simply reinforce what Officer Halstead has provided. Please see the attached document with my responses.

Be Safe!

William R. Pieper

Crime Prevention Officer

Office: 512-232-9638

Fax: 512- 471-7505

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure

”Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.”

-Albert Einstein

1. How can students and parents find out about campus crime statistics at your school? (Please provide Web link)

The Vice President for Student Affairs with The University of Texas at Austin also sends out a brochure on an annual basis. The brochure is entitled The University of Texas at Austin: What You Need To Know. The brochure includes information on campus security and crime awareness, selected campus policies and reports, and the policy mandating the campus as a drug free university. The brochure lists the following web addresses:

Campus Security and Crime Awareness: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security

The University’s policies concerning privacy: http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi06-07/app/appc09/html

The University’s policy regarding illicit drugs: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/drugfree/index.html

Information for Students with Disabilities: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd/

Information pertaining to registered sex offenders: http://www.utexas.edu/police/alerts/sex_offenders.html

The brochure also contains text regarding university standards of conduct which includes drug and alcohol information, offenses, penalties (federal, state and university penalties) and information for available counseling and rehabilitation.

2. Where can students and parents find recent daily campus police logs at your school? (Please provide Web link)

In addition to the Campus Watch, anyone is free to visit the police department to review the daily police blog that lists crimes reported to or observed by the police department.

3. Does your university have a stated policy on illegal alcohol and drug use? If so, what is your policy?

The University of Texas at Austin does have a stated policy regarding illegal alcohol use and drug use on campus. This policy can be researched at http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/drugfree/conduct.html

4. What the single most important factor in the ability of students to avoid being victimized by personal and property crimes at your school?

Knowledge is key: students need to know what the risks are, how to recognize a potential problem and how to prevent or avoid crimes as they arise. The police department offers a variety of crime prevention seminars and posts prevention information on their web-site.

5. Do your security officers carry weapons? Does your university have a stated position on concealed carry by students or faculty?

The police officers with The University of Texas at Austin Police Department are commissioned peace officers and do carry side arms. State law in Texas prohibits citizens from carrying any prohibited weapons on campus.

6. What's the single most significant change to campus/residence hall security policies or procedures in the past five years? Please provide a link or email any helpful PowerPoint presentations on student security, if possible.

The police department routinely trains with Housing and Food Staff which allows the two departments to develop good working ties. The crime prevention office also provides the resident assistants with a variety of programs and literature to provide them with a good base knowledge for creating a crime free environment.

Response - University of Texas

From the University of Texas, in response to my query.

Good Morning Sir

My name is Darrell Halstead, I am a police officer at the University of Texas @ Austin. I am currently assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit at UT.

I would like to address your questions:

1. How can students and parents find out about campus crime statistics at your school? (Please provide Web link)

All students, staff, faculty, and parents can access the Clery stats on line: http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/awareness/campus_stats.html

2. Where can students and parents find recent daily campus police logs at your school? (Please provide Web link)

The University of Texas Police Department posts a daily crime log called the Campus Watch. This is sent out to subscribers as well as being posted on the UTPD web site.

www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch

3. Does your university have a stated policy on illegal alcohol and drug use? If so, what is your policy?

Yes the University of Texas has a police about illegal drug and alcohol use. This policy is posted on the Vice President of Student Affairs website:

http://www.utexas.edu/student/vpsa/security/drugfree/conduct.html

4.What the single most important factor in the ability of students to avoid being victimized by personal and property crimes at your school?

The one single most important factor to help students is to help them become aware of what is going on around them. Help in the education process by teaching them what the criminals already know.

5. Do your security officers carry weapons? Does your university have a stated position on concealed carry by students or faculty?

Yes the police officers at UT are armed. State law prohibits concealed weapons on any university.

6. What's the single most significant change to campus/residence hall security policies or procedures in the past five years? Please provide a link or email any helpful powerpoint presentations on student security,if possible.
Currently the Division of Housing and Food and the University of Texas Police Department are working together to re-define policy and procedures within the dormitories. All computer workstations will be standardized. All access points will be controlled 24/7.

If you have any additional questions please contact me at:

Officer Darrell Halstead

2201 Robert Dedman

Austin Texas 78705

512-232-9634