[Originally published: Oct. 15, 2015 in The Ionian]

Iona College released its Campus Safety and Security Annual Report, which includes crime statistics from the last three years, on Sept. 30.

The document, also known as the Clery Report, presents the number of fires, assaults, sexual offenses, robberies, drug and liquor law violations and other serious crimes on-campus, in the surrounding area and off-campus where Iona holds property. It also outlines Iona’s policies regarding such situations.

Liquor law and drug violations were the most frequent offenses by far. There were 129 liquor law violations and 42 drug violations in 2014.

The Clery Report stated that no homicides, sexual offenses, robberies, aggravated assaults, motor vehicle thefts, arson, hate crimes, domestic violence or stalking incidents have been reported in the last year.

“I can clearly say without any reservation that New Rochelle is a very safe community,” Vice Provost for Student Life Charles Carlson said. “At the same time, whether it be on-campus or off-campus, anything that can happen anywhere in the metropolitan area can happen here.”

There was one reported burglary as well as one possession of a weapon charge in 2014.

While many of the categories had very few, if any, reported incidents, Carlson is still concerned about the impact of these events.

“To me, one may be a minimal number, but it has a lasting impact,” he said.

Every college that receives federal financial aid is required to publish such records in compliance with the Clery Act, which was signed into law after a college student, Jeanne Clery, was raped and murdered in a residence hall at Lehigh University in 1986. This law is designed to prevent colleges from covering up crimes.

“I’m never truly scared of witnessing or experiencing a crime around here, but having someone to walk with late at night just makes me feel more comfortable and of course, more safe,” said junior Amanda Moneta, who lives off campus on Coligni Avenue.

Compared to other colleges in the area, Iona compares pretty favorably.

Marist College had 499 liquor law violations, 89 drug violations, eight burglaries, five sexual offenses, two auto thefts, one aggravated assault and one arson in 2014.

Manhattan College had 208 liquor law violations, 106 drug violations, three sexual assault incidents, three burglaries and one weapon possession in 2013. Manhattan’s 2014 report was not accessible as of press time.

Fordham University, which is substantially larger than the other schools, had 666 liquor law violations, 88 drug abuse violations, 30 burglaries and eight sexual offenses on its three campuses (Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester) in 2014.

While Iona is relatively safe already, the College continues to make efforts to improve safety and security.

The College has more than 200 closed-circuit cameras on campus. As technology improves, the security department installs better, newer cameras. Security upgrades its equipment on a regular basis.

Iona is also looking into devices that students could carry around with them that would enable them to ring for security any time they feel in danger. These contraptions would use the smart phone location feature to alert security of where the student is.

Another safety improvement that might be implemented is a stop light for pedestrian traffic to cross North Avenue once the new residence hall is completed.

“Security is constantly looking for new ways to keep students safe,” Carlson said. “Students have to be aware of their surroundings, have to be alert [and] have to do everything they can to protect themselves.”

As the College continues to improve safety and security, students generally feel safe on and around campus.

“I have never felt threatened by anyone while in the surrounding community,” said senior Sean Campbell, who lives off campus on Coligni Avenue. “New Rochelle seems to me to be a pretty safe community.”

New Rochelle was ranked one of the 50 safest college towns in America by safewise.com.

“I honestly feel like we have a very safe campus,” said senior Sarah Dembek, who lives in Rice Hall. “I am often out and about late at night, whether it be heading back from night class or the gym, and I never feel uncomfortable.”

Iona’s Clery Report is available on the Safety and Security section of the Iona website under Advisories & Reporting.

http://www.ioniannews.com/news/article_e72e3fa0-7391-11e5-9fac-439d00f081d8.html