This week the Department of Public Safety released SU’s annual security report, federally mandated by the Jeanne Clery Act since 1990. The report lists the last three years of crime statistics from SU as well as the campus’ safety procedures and policies. Crime decreases may be proof that changes to DPS and security measures on and around campus are increasing student safety.

In this year’s report, crime decreased overall across campus, with the biggest drop coming from disciplinary action due to liquor law violations, a 35% decrease last year. Sex crimes and crimes that violate the Violence Against Women Act also saw a drop of 30% in 2018.

Actions taken by DPS in the last school year have likely had a positive effect on the safety of the student body, as the report shows. These statistics show promise for the future of student safety at SU, and continued policy reform by DPS and the university should further this improvement, to continue the trend into this school year.

After an assault on Ackerman Ave. last February, which the SU Student Association described as “racially charged”, SA voted to review DPS through a third party. In response to this incident, DPS expanded late-night shuttles on campus, and made other policy changes. DPS also increased transparency into their actions and jurisdiction, in response to a student forum held the same month.

So far this year, DPS has continued policy reform, planning to add security cameras in the Euclid area and further expanding late-night escorts. Other security measures have also been added this year, including the use of Wildfire, a crowd-sourced public safety app that collects tips and notes from students and can push notifications to users of important safety information.

Certain crimes, such as burglary, did increase in the last year, however, showing that current reforms are not enough to curb crime at SU. In 2018, burglary instances increased by 36% to a total of 38 instances compared to 2017.

Nick Robertson is a freshman news and online journalism and policy studies major. His column appears bi-weekly. He can be reached at njrobert@syr.edu. He can be followed on Twitter at @NickRobertsonSU.