Spring Break
UConn sexual assault statistics still low
Megan Lynch
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: Commentary
With the two recent sexual assaults on campus, students have been in a heightened state of awareness - more like a panic. However, is it all entirely necessary? Is UConn really as dangerous as it has appeared to be since the beginning of this semester? Based on campus crime statistics posted on the Web sites of several schools in the area, UConn's sexual assault numbers are not as high as one may think. While statistics are never entirely correct, it provides a good basis for comparison.
When compared to schools of similar sizes in New England, UConn has the lowest number of sexual assaults for the past three years. With 16,000 undergraduates on the Storrs campus, according to the Uniform Campus Crime Report, there were three total sexual assaults reported in 2007, two in 2006, and three in 2005. All of the assaults were First Degree and verified by UConn police. The Cleary Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 2006 for the University of Rhode Island in Kingston reported four sexual assaults reported in 2006 and four in 2005. URI's Kingston campus houses 13,000 undergraduates, less than UConn. However, they had more reported assaults.
Another example is from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The Cleary Report of 2007 reported a terrifyingly high number of sexual assaults. For a campus of 20,000 undergraduates, there were 14 sexual assaults reported in 2007, 10 in 2006 and 17 in 2005 - at least ten more than UConn. Their campus has many of the same characteristics of UConn, it is a small city inside a town and therefore difficult to police, but that is not enough to explain so many sexual assaults.
UConn is also a bit behind other Connecticut universities. Although the fact remains that UConn is much larger, Central Connecticut State University reported no sexual assaults in 2006 and three in 2005. Eastern Connecticut State University reported none in 2007 two in 2006, and four in 2005. Central and Eastern both require sex offenders to register with the university prior to living on campus, preventing attacks from previous offenders. Whatever steps were taken to protect the students over the past few years, they have proven effective and have shown a decrease in sexual assaults.
When compared to schools of similar sizes in New England, UConn has the lowest number of sexual assaults for the past three years. With 16,000 undergraduates on the Storrs campus, according to the Uniform Campus Crime Report, there were three total sexual assaults reported in 2007, two in 2006, and three in 2005. All of the assaults were First Degree and verified by UConn police. The Cleary Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 2006 for the University of Rhode Island in Kingston reported four sexual assaults reported in 2006 and four in 2005. URI's Kingston campus houses 13,000 undergraduates, less than UConn. However, they had more reported assaults.
Another example is from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The Cleary Report of 2007 reported a terrifyingly high number of sexual assaults. For a campus of 20,000 undergraduates, there were 14 sexual assaults reported in 2007, 10 in 2006 and 17 in 2005 - at least ten more than UConn. Their campus has many of the same characteristics of UConn, it is a small city inside a town and therefore difficult to police, but that is not enough to explain so many sexual assaults.
UConn is also a bit behind other Connecticut universities. Although the fact remains that UConn is much larger, Central Connecticut State University reported no sexual assaults in 2006 and three in 2005. Eastern Connecticut State University reported none in 2007 two in 2006, and four in 2005. Central and Eastern both require sex offenders to register with the university prior to living on campus, preventing attacks from previous offenders. Whatever steps were taken to protect the students over the past few years, they have proven effective and have shown a decrease in sexual assaults.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ms Andry
posted 9/18/08 @ 7:55 AM EST
Oh dear.
Ms. Lynch, you have just added at least ten (more) gray hairs to the heads of anyone who has ever tried to teach you how to write.
hmm
posted 9/18/08 @ 2:44 PM EST
Two sexual assaults occurred at UConn within a week! While we may overall have a relatively "low" percentage of sexual assaults within a typical year, TWO assaults during the first weekends of a new school year is something to be concerned about! If you were the one that was raped, I'm sure a different article would have been written. (Continued…)
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