U.S. Dept. of Education crime statistics released
Holly Burdorff
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: News
Denison ranks low for on-campus crimes, according to the recently released statistics by the U.S. Department of Education.
At Denison, burglaries were the most common criminal offense, with a report of 21 offenses in 2006.
Following were arson, aggravated assault and forcible sex offenses, which accounted for only single-digit offences on campus.
"The burglaries are mostly taking place in residence halls," Garret Moore, Denison Director of Security, Safety and Risk Management, said. He noted that the federal classification system classifies open-door thefts as burglaries.
Moore also explained that the federal definition of arson is a fire that is set deliberately, or a fire that has an unknown cause. "Most fires on campus are deliberately set. Folks do very dangerous things."
Holly Knouff, a first-year English Writing major from Columbus, said she was surprised by the arson statistic.
"I really didn't know that went on here," she said, "I'd like to know what causes people to set things on fire."
Ronne Proch, a sophomore pre-med and neuroscience major from Cleveland, said she believes that both the arson and burglary statistics represent general disrespect.
"I think a lot of the kids on this campus have been given everything, and they don't know the value of property," she said.
Proch said she doesn't understand why Denison students would want to steal.
"I would think that Denison kids would be able to afford their own things," Proch said.
Arrest statistics were also included in the report. While the arrests for drug use rose steadily, from 3 to 15 from 2004 to 2006, the arrests due to liquor consumption decreased overall, going from 14 to 1.
Overall, disciplinary actions relating to drug use averaged around 43 per year, while disciplinary actions relating to alcohol averaged 195 per year.
"I believe that students aren't using them more," Moore said in reference to the increasing drug arrest statistics. "We are just catching them more. Students in the residence halls don't want to put up with the smell and the behavior more often now, and they call in to security."
Moore said he thinks the numbers at Denison are low compared to other schools.
The Ohio State University in Columbus reported 329 burglaries in 2006, up from 295 the year before.
Even Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, had higher crime statistics than DU. They reported 37 burglaries in 2006.
"Overall, our numbers are very low compared to other campuses, and campus is very safe," Moore said.
At Denison, burglaries were the most common criminal offense, with a report of 21 offenses in 2006.
Following were arson, aggravated assault and forcible sex offenses, which accounted for only single-digit offences on campus.
"The burglaries are mostly taking place in residence halls," Garret Moore, Denison Director of Security, Safety and Risk Management, said. He noted that the federal classification system classifies open-door thefts as burglaries.
Moore also explained that the federal definition of arson is a fire that is set deliberately, or a fire that has an unknown cause. "Most fires on campus are deliberately set. Folks do very dangerous things."
Holly Knouff, a first-year English Writing major from Columbus, said she was surprised by the arson statistic.
"I really didn't know that went on here," she said, "I'd like to know what causes people to set things on fire."
Ronne Proch, a sophomore pre-med and neuroscience major from Cleveland, said she believes that both the arson and burglary statistics represent general disrespect.
"I think a lot of the kids on this campus have been given everything, and they don't know the value of property," she said.
Proch said she doesn't understand why Denison students would want to steal.
"I would think that Denison kids would be able to afford their own things," Proch said.
Arrest statistics were also included in the report. While the arrests for drug use rose steadily, from 3 to 15 from 2004 to 2006, the arrests due to liquor consumption decreased overall, going from 14 to 1.
Overall, disciplinary actions relating to drug use averaged around 43 per year, while disciplinary actions relating to alcohol averaged 195 per year.
"I believe that students aren't using them more," Moore said in reference to the increasing drug arrest statistics. "We are just catching them more. Students in the residence halls don't want to put up with the smell and the behavior more often now, and they call in to security."
Moore said he thinks the numbers at Denison are low compared to other schools.
The Ohio State University in Columbus reported 329 burglaries in 2006, up from 295 the year before.
Even Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, had higher crime statistics than DU. They reported 37 burglaries in 2006.
"Overall, our numbers are very low compared to other campuses, and campus is very safe," Moore said.
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