With the last academic year passing relatively crime free, many students have been startled to find reports of sexual assault and robbery upon their return. Surprisingly, there has been no increase in crime-according to Public Safety Chief McNair; his department has simply become more diligent about alerting the campus community of safety concerns.
Recent revisions to the Clery Act now mandate this laudable increase in transparency. The act, passed in the wake of a tragic and preventable death of a Lehigh University student, originally called for transparent disclosure for incidents occurring on and around college campuses. This summer, its demands on Public Safety became more rigorous, which is good news for students. Students do have a right to know what happens on their campus.
At the same time, Public Safety should be doing more to publicize the fact that crime itself isn't becoming more prevalent in the area. Students don't need to be unnecessarily spooked, especially when a vital pillar of AU's recruitment strategy involves convincing parents that their children are safe in this part of D.C.
Again, that's not to say students aren't safe. It's important to remember that the recent flood of notifications is cautionary. Students should take the notifications at face value and continue to assume personal responsibility for their own safety and security.
