On Oct. 1 the Department of Public Safety released its annual Security and Fire Safety Report, highlighting several variances in crime rates on property under the College’s jurisdiction over the past three years.
The College is required to compile crime statistics in seven major categories to the federal government under the Clery Act – a 1990 protection law requiring all colleges and universities who receive federal funding to share information about crime on campus. These categories include sexual offensives, burglaries and alcohol violations. The report includes data from Public Safety, the Middlebury Police Department and law enforcement agencies in locations where Middlebury has a presence.
The most marked change since 2012 was the number of drug law violations. In 2012, the College witnessed 49 drug related crimes on Middlebury’s campus and 38 in residential facilities. However, after Vermont decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in the summer of 2013, that number dropped to one violation total, and to two violations in 2014.
The report also showed significant variance in fires. After 2012 had a total of 12 fires, there was a dramatic drop to two fires in 2013. 2014 then saw seven fires.
Significant from this year’s finding also includes the statistics on sexual offenses. In accordance with the updated Violence Against Women Act, the 2015 report includes new categories and definitions of crimes related to sex offenses. As mandated by the Clery Act, sex offenses are defined as “any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent. Sex offenses include rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape.”
In 2012, there were five accounts of sexual offenses, which increased to 17 the following year. In 2014 there were ten reported sex offenses, including nine rapes and one case of forced fondling. However, due to required reporting changes, comparing 2014 statistics to those from the two previous years might not necessarily be indicative of overall trends.
Such findings in years past have invoked change on campus to educate students, faculty and staff about ways to tackle such crime. For example, in 2013 the College secured a grant from the Department of Justice to enhance campus programs aimed at preventing sexual violence. In addition, numerous educational programs hosted by students and faculty exist on campus to promote awareness and prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The Green Dot Violence Prevention Strategy launched this fall as a mandatory program for all incoming first-years and teaches bystander intervetion as a method to mediate potentially harmful situations.
Another initiative, MiddSafe, includes students, faculty and staff committed to providing a safe and confidential resource for peers in need of support and information around sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence and other personal violations. The group’s goal is to function as a non-judgmental, compassionate and affective resource for individuals in emergency and non-crisis situations. Advocates provide an array of options to guide students toward medical, legal and emotional resources on local, state and national levels. MiddSafe advocates offer services such as a 24-hour hotline operated by volunteer student advocates.
“I’m happy to see the expansion and increased awareness of programs like MiddSafe and Green Dot, which I think are great steps towards eliminating power-based personal violence on campus” said Molly McShane ’16.5.
