Link to Campus Security Website
Oct. 17, 2000
Interested in finding out just how safe your son's or daughter's prospective college is?
Now you can, by visiting a web site provided by the Department of Education. It features crime statistics at your fingertips for the last three years.
News Specialist Jill Atwood explains.
Campus crime. There's no denying it happens, but how often, where, and what types of crime?
"CERTAINLY A LOT MORE GOOD CAN COME FROM PEOPLE BEING AWARE OF PROBLEMS, AND A LOT MORE CHANGE--SOCIAL CHANGE AND, YOU KNOW, SAFETY CAN COME FROM PEOPLE BEING MORE EDUCATED."
The U.S. Department of Education agrees and has decided to provide answers to all those questions on one easy website.
Starting next week, all colleges and universities nationwide have to post crime stats with the D.O.E. or face losing some federal funding.
Kellie Anne Foreman/Student: "I THINK THE INFO IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF I WERE TO WALK OUT OF MY DOOR EVERYDAY AND NOT KNOW WHAT WAS OUT THERE THEN I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF."
Jill Atwood, Reporting: "COLLEGES HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO MAKE THEIR CRIME STATS KNOWN FOR SOMETIME NOW. THAT'S NOTHING NEW. BUT NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WANTS TO KEEP A CLOSER TAB ON THINGS, HOPING TO DISCOURAGE SCHOOLS FROM COVERING UP CAMPUS CRIMES."
Martin Liccardo/U. of U. Student: "BY BRINGING SITUATIONS LIKE THIS UP FRONT, THE CAMPUS AS A COMMUNITY CAN FORM TOGETHER, CAN START SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS AND WORKING THESE PROBLEMS TOGETHER."
When choosing a college, getting a good education is certainly one criteria, but a student's safety has to be another.
Officer Kevin Nollenberg/University Police: "EVERY YEAR WE GET A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS AND STAFF AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN URBAN ENVIRONEMENT AND THEY DO NEED TO BE AWARE. AND THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS."
All colleges should be posted by October 24th.
Find the website at ope.ed.gov/security/.
