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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/30/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
October 23, 2007 UWGB takes action on increased crime, arrests Gotcha! campaign tries to end personal thefts By Mike Hoeft
The university received two reports of forcible sex offenses each in 2004 and 2005, but that number jumped to 14 in 2006.
The biggest contributor to the increase: six of the 14 incidents reported last year involved one juvenile boy accused of fondling one juvenile girl several times during a summer program, campus Public Safety Director Randy Christopherson said.
The other sex offenses happened to people who knew their attackers, which is common for such assaults. The university takes all offenses seriously and responds to each in the same way.
"Overall, this is a very safe campus," Christopherson said.
The sex-offense statistics include anonymous confidential reports.
Increased reporting of sex assaults is a positive step, Dean of Students Sue Keihn said.
"We want people to report. It doesn't necessarily mean there is more of it," she said.
Liquor-law arrests also increased last year, going from 42 in 2004 to 72 in 2005 to 110 in 2006. That's an increase of 52 percent in one year from 2005.
"The numbers indicate we are dealing aggressively with underage drinking," said Keihn.
Underage students who violate liquor laws on campus may face municipal citations or university sanctions. The latter includes warnings, counseling or a six-hour instructional course on teaching responsible behavior. First-time offenders receive warnings, and citations target those who provide alcohol to underage drinkers.
Students and staff at UW-Green Bay are trying to be smart about safety. That means striving to protect against threats similar to the mass shootings at Virginia Tech as well as the everyday crimes of theft and vehicle break-ins.
The campus did not have any reports of robbery, arson, aggravated assault, burglary or murder in 2006. Thefts, however, were up to 48 last year after dropping from 53 in 2004 to 34 in 2005. That's an increase of 41 percent in one year from 2005.
"College kids are poor but they usually have laptops and iPods," said Nick Cibula, a UW-Green Bay junior who is secretary for the Student Government Association's health and safety committee.
Residence hall entrances are locked at all times, and no thefts have been reported inside. Most thefts occur from vehicles or in gathering spots on campus such as lounges, study areas or cafeterias.
The university is taking steps to prevent such crimes, including the use of "Gotcha!" cards, Christopherson said. Patrol officers who see personal items left unattended will place a "Gotcha!" card on them to remind students not to leave valuables in the open or their vehicles unlocked.
Procedures are in place to alert people through public address systems to any kind of emergency, whether it's a tornado or an active shooter, Christopherson said. Students also will be notified online with instant messages about any emergency alerts, he said.
Cibula said his biggest concern is car break-ins.
"They're just a big target," he said.
More than 5,800 students attend UW-Green Bay, with many of them commuting. More than 2,000 live on campus.
"I've always felt very safe here," said senior Sara Duginske of Green Bay. "But in light of the Crandon shootings, nothing is impossible. So you have to be prepared."
Duginske, who is vice president of the Student Government Association, is working with Cibula on taking proactive approaches on security issues. The students attended the chancellor's annual security walk on campus earlier this year.
"We noted dark areas that needed better lighting and where phones were located," she said. "We want to work with the administration about student concerns."
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