The UNM Police Department’s annual Security and Fire Safety Report shows that the number of reported sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence cases on campus property increased in 2014 from the previous year.
According to the report,, released Oct.1, the number of reported sexual assaults on campus increased from 12 to 18 between 2013 and 2014. The number of reported stalking crimes on campus also increased from five in 2013 to 28 in 2014.
Seventeen incidents of domestic violence were reported, as well: 15 on campus property, and two in the residential facilities.
In 2013, UNMPD had included three new sections to its annual Safety and Security Report to comply with recommendations made by the Violence Against Women Act of 2013. The categories included data on dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.
According to the report, the number of reported dating violence cases decreased to one on campus and one in the residential facilities in 2014, down from four and three, respectively.
Lt. Tim Stump of the UNMPD said that over the past few years UNM has pushed encouragement of reporting criminal activity, especially sexual assaults, and the push has contributed to the rise in sexual assaults being reported, as well as stalking reports.
“Every number (of reported sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking cases) represents a survivor,” Stump said. “UNM has come a long way and has incorporated better ways for a survivor to come forward and receive the help they need, which are also listed in the report.”
The report shows the number of burglary incidents on campus property, non-campus property, public property and residential facilities decreased from 34 in 2013 to 26 in 2014. Stump said a major factor in that is UNMPD’s prioritization of theft as a concern.
The report also includes statistics for violations of alcohol, drug and weapons laws that resulted in referrals for disciplinary action by UNM Residence Life and Student Housing, and the Dean of Students Office. Drug-related offenses referred for discipline went up from 73 in 2013 to 138 in 2014, while alcohol discipline cases remained steady at 281. There were no illegal weapons possession violations last year, as was also the case for the previous two years.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which makes UNMPD’s report mandatory, is the federal law also known as the Clery Act. It requires all colleges and universities across the U.S. participating in federal financial aid programs to disclose information about crimes on campus and on public property immediately adjacent to the campus.
In August 2014, a UNM Internal Auditor’s report — the Preliminary Assessment of Clery Act Compliance Report — had found that the University was not substantially compliant with the Clery Act, and had warned that the University could face heavy fines due to the non-compliance, the Daily Lobo reported at the time.
The report warned that the University is not collecting enough of the right data, and may be over-reporting in areas such as student discipline referrals, according to the Daily Lobo report.
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“Early on, the Clery Act was primarily focused on crime statistics, and so it pretty much fell on the police department’s shoulders to ensure those crime statistics were reported annually,” Deputy UNM Police Chief Christine Chester, interim Clery coordinator, said in an article published in the Daily Lobo on Sept. 2, 2014. “With the new amendments it just became an overwhelming task to do on its own. For Clery compliance, it’s got to be a collaborative, University-wide effort.”
Stump said that any time there is a change in the Clery Act, UNMPD will incorporate the new changes on the affected year’s report.
“Readers can use the report as a guide on how to report criminal activity, and also what resources are available,” he said.
He said UNMPD emphasizes to the UNM community to be aware of their surroundings.
“Walk in groups or pairs at night, know where the blue phones are located and be familiar with the number to UNMPD and its location at 2500 Campus North East,” he said.
He said the Lobo Guardian app has also doubled in users and UNMPD encourages the UNM community in getting the app and utilizing it for real-time tips, emergencies (it immediately notifies UNMPD) and for the Guardian purposes.
“The timely notification alerts have greatly assisted UNMPD,” he said. “During two separate groping cases, we were able to locate and apprehend offenders because of the community awareness and quick reporting after an alert went out.”
According to a UNM press release, UNM President Bob Frank appreciated UNMPD’s role in making the campus secure and stated that the UNMPD, University administration, faculty and staff are working hard to make this campus safer.
“Accurate reporting is the first step in this process,” Frank was quoted in the release. “We believe the information in this report is informative and helpful. We hope everyone will take the time to review it and work with us to improve our outcomes.”
Sayyed Shah is the assistant news editor at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at assistant-news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @mianfawadshah.
