HOW SAFE IS CLU?

This is the time of the year that U.S universities put out the annual security and fire life safety report. These reports contain security and crime statistics from previous years and “is published and distributed annually by October 1 in accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act”.

After analyzing California Lutheran University’s report, the statistics raised questions about the accuracy of the report. In order to investigate the accuracy of the statistics, a few students and the director of campus safety gave their insights on crime at CLU.

At CLU, what determines crime is something heavily up for debate. Many students are unaware about what a crime is on campus. David Hilke, director of campus safety explain what a crime is at CLU.

“Crime by definition is, ‘an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted and is punishable by law’... having alcohol on campus and lighting a candle would be considered policy violations and not a crime. However, if the person in possession of the alcohol is under the age of 21, then that would be considered a crime that is punishable by law,” said David Hilke.

For Symone Sandquist, a sophomore and resident at California Lutheran University, crime is anything that goes against the student handbook. Anything that goes against the student handbook can range from something minor to major where the police have to be involved. She feels that she has been a victim many times and has been targeted on numerous occasions.

When asked, how often do you think crimes occur at CLU? Or most importantly, how does a student at California Lutheran University define a “crime?” Symone responded:

“I believe that crime happens every single day at CLU. As a minority in a white dominant city, I feel like I am racially separated from so many other students. There have been many times where I felt like the situation would have been different if I was white.”

“ I know many other students that go against the student handbook. A majority of students that live on campus are lucky and get away with numerous violations and never seem to have to face any repercussions.”

Many students were confused if getting a citation or receiving a violation would be considered a crime. Hilke explains the differences between policy violations and citations.

“At California Lutheran University policy violations differ from citations. A policy violation is adjudicated by the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct, while citations are issued by sworn law enforcement (Thousand Oaks Police). Citations are often considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically taken in to custody. Policy violations do not necessarily turn in to a crime. However, students, faculty and staff can be in violation of a California Lutheran University Policy and issued a citation for criminal activity. For example, California Lutheran University is a drug free campus. Anyone found to be in possession of an illegal substance will face disciplinary action from the University and potentially be charged with a crime if law enforcement is involved”.

Do violations get put into the annual security and fire life safety report? What does not get put in the report?

“The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains crime statistics. Under the Clery Act, policy violations are not a reportable statistic,” said Hilke.

Any criminal activity that Campus Safety is aware about is published in the annual security and fire life safety report every year.

“... the Clery Act and Department of Education mandates that we meet certain requirements when publishing the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report,” said Hilke.

A majority of students and faculty believe that CLU is a pretty safe campus. How often do crimes happen on campus?

For Hannah Karzin, current senior resident assistant at CLU, she believes that most “true” crimes only occur about once or twice a month on campus. The rest follow into citations or violations of students not following the proper guidelines and standards CLU presents to all students who live on campus and attend classes.

“In my four years of being an RA, I have never seen an actual crime. It is way more common for students to be breaking policy violations; on the weekends especially.”

“It is usually due to noise and alcohol which I get most kids in college want to do, but CLU is a dry campus and the policies have to be enforced, regardless of how much fun you want to have.”

So how safe is CLU really? Or are these crimes not really that concerning to students overall?

Most people would agree that CLU is a safe campus. The university is located in Thousand Oaks near a low crime neighborhood and close to the Thousand Oaks Police Department and Ventura County Fire Station 34.

For Samantha Garcia, a sophomore and resident at CLU, she feels safe walking around campus and knows that if she were to ever get in trouble there is campus safety that patrols 24/7.

“I believe CLU is a pretty safe school. Knowing that I am in Thousand Oaks reassures me that it would be rare for a serious crime to happen, especially on campus”.

For many colleges, the rules pertaining to the possession of alcohol or drugs is different than CLU’s. Since CLU is a dry campus, possession of alcohol or drugs is handled differently and have different consequences pertaining to each offense. It seems like a common age for students to become more active in drinking and smoking marijuana happens in high school and or college.

#photo