Staff Editorial: Immaturity weakens strong safety record
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Opinions
Eastern's 2008 security report, released in October, shows drug- and alcohol-related offenses on campus are on the rise. While this may come as a surprising increase to some, there are reasons the campus community should be happy with the report's findings, namely in the area of campus safety.
The drug and alcohol violations are disturbing but the safety displayed by the report's statistics is settling.
As reported in the Nov. 10 edition of The Daily Eastern News, "The annual security report gives the number of crimes committed on or near campus each year as well as safety measures taken by the university, and is released every October."
The report shows drug-related violations on campus more than quadrupled from 2007 to 2008. However, disciplinary referrals for such violations are on the decline.
Perhaps more disturbing than the numbers themselves are the locations, with only four violations occurring in residence halls in 2007 but 25 in 2008.
Overall disciplinary referrals related to drugs and/or alcohol increased by more than 22 percent.
One cannot ignore the numbers and see there is a problem with the number of infractions that occurred on campus within the past year.
The full report for Eastern can be found at www.eiu.edu/~police/statsthru.html.
Of course, numbers never lie.
The fact remains that far too many students are attempting to get away with far too many foolish things in residence halls. Regardless of whether one agrees with the policies that dictate behavior in the dorms, one is made aware of them before moving in on day one.
No one reaches the height of wisdom and mature decision-making at the age of 18. But, in the eyes of the law, that birthday makes one a full-fledged adult, and part of being an adult is understanding what one can and cannot do and living with the consequences of any actions.
Even as a freshman when someone moves into the residence halls, they know they are not allowed to possess alcohol and most certainly not allowed to possess a controlled substance. There is absolutely no excuse for such a high number of offenses in this department.
However, when one looks at violent crimes on or around campus, a sense of security can be found in those statistics, and solace can be found when comparing reports from other schools around the state.
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale has just 3,000 more undergrads than Eastern. However, the 2008 security report for SIUC shows nearly four times as many reports of aggravated assault and a steady increase in that area over the past three years.
When it comes to burglary, Eastern shows an increase over the past three years. But, considering Northern Illinois University's 46 reports of burglary last year and SIUC's shocking 163 burglaries; Eastern's 22 accounts seem hardly the largest problem facing campus.
NIU boasts nearly 8,000 more undergraduate students as Eastern. Its 2008 security report shows a strong decline in alcohol- and drug-related offenses on campus, from 531 reports in 2006 down to just 247 in 2008.
However, the school has had more than twice as many reports of aggravated assault during the past year.
Eastern is a small school planted right in the middle of a small community. A sense of security can be, at times, a forgone conclusion given the rural atmosphere in which we find ourselves.
But one can never overestimate or take for granted the feeling of safety.
The number of alcohol and drug violations on and around our campus is troubling. Of course, as students enter and progress through college, they want to live out the party fantasy so often played out in pop culture.
But we are here first and foremost to attain an education, to enrich our minds and to expand our thinking.
Let's get with the program, Eastern; because our disproportionately huge number of offenses in this department is an embarrassment considering how much smaller our university is than others around the state.
That being said, it is a welcome surprise to find our campus remains relatively safe in what is becoming a progressively unsafe world.
One must always be vigilant and safe when walking the streets and campus, especially at night. But it is good to know we need not live in fear. And it is exceptionally good to know our home is still a safe one.
To view a PDF of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's clery report, click here.
To view a PDF of Northern Illinois University's clery report, click here.
The drug and alcohol violations are disturbing but the safety displayed by the report's statistics is settling.
As reported in the Nov. 10 edition of The Daily Eastern News, "The annual security report gives the number of crimes committed on or near campus each year as well as safety measures taken by the university, and is released every October."
The report shows drug-related violations on campus more than quadrupled from 2007 to 2008. However, disciplinary referrals for such violations are on the decline.
Perhaps more disturbing than the numbers themselves are the locations, with only four violations occurring in residence halls in 2007 but 25 in 2008.
Overall disciplinary referrals related to drugs and/or alcohol increased by more than 22 percent.
One cannot ignore the numbers and see there is a problem with the number of infractions that occurred on campus within the past year.
The full report for Eastern can be found at www.eiu.edu/~police/statsthru.html.
Of course, numbers never lie.
The fact remains that far too many students are attempting to get away with far too many foolish things in residence halls. Regardless of whether one agrees with the policies that dictate behavior in the dorms, one is made aware of them before moving in on day one.
No one reaches the height of wisdom and mature decision-making at the age of 18. But, in the eyes of the law, that birthday makes one a full-fledged adult, and part of being an adult is understanding what one can and cannot do and living with the consequences of any actions.
Even as a freshman when someone moves into the residence halls, they know they are not allowed to possess alcohol and most certainly not allowed to possess a controlled substance. There is absolutely no excuse for such a high number of offenses in this department.
However, when one looks at violent crimes on or around campus, a sense of security can be found in those statistics, and solace can be found when comparing reports from other schools around the state.
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale has just 3,000 more undergrads than Eastern. However, the 2008 security report for SIUC shows nearly four times as many reports of aggravated assault and a steady increase in that area over the past three years.
When it comes to burglary, Eastern shows an increase over the past three years. But, considering Northern Illinois University's 46 reports of burglary last year and SIUC's shocking 163 burglaries; Eastern's 22 accounts seem hardly the largest problem facing campus.
NIU boasts nearly 8,000 more undergraduate students as Eastern. Its 2008 security report shows a strong decline in alcohol- and drug-related offenses on campus, from 531 reports in 2006 down to just 247 in 2008.
However, the school has had more than twice as many reports of aggravated assault during the past year.
Eastern is a small school planted right in the middle of a small community. A sense of security can be, at times, a forgone conclusion given the rural atmosphere in which we find ourselves.
But one can never overestimate or take for granted the feeling of safety.
The number of alcohol and drug violations on and around our campus is troubling. Of course, as students enter and progress through college, they want to live out the party fantasy so often played out in pop culture.
But we are here first and foremost to attain an education, to enrich our minds and to expand our thinking.
Let's get with the program, Eastern; because our disproportionately huge number of offenses in this department is an embarrassment considering how much smaller our university is than others around the state.
That being said, it is a welcome surprise to find our campus remains relatively safe in what is becoming a progressively unsafe world.
One must always be vigilant and safe when walking the streets and campus, especially at night. But it is good to know we need not live in fear. And it is exceptionally good to know our home is still a safe one.
To view a PDF of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale's clery report, click here.
To view a PDF of Northern Illinois University's clery report, click here.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Anna
posted 11/18/09 @ 6:10 PM CST
I think we need to focus on the actual CRIME going on in this town, not the drinking citations. I don't really consider Charleston safe (I often urge my friends not to live in houses & take the safer, more manageable route of apartment living). (Continued…)
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