Crimes cannot be kept secret in U.S. colleges because federal
law mandates colleges make this information available to the
public, but recently a study found this is not always done.
Last week, the Education Development Center, in partnership with
the University of Cincinatti, released the results of a two-year
study finding many higher education institutions to be in violation
of the Clery Act, a federal law that mandates that colleges and
universities must publicize crime statistics and information on
security policies.
Since the EDC/University of Cincinnati survey was designed to
keep school names anonymous, it is unknown whether UCLA was one of
the schools studied or how it fared if it was studied. But UCLA
officials are confident crimes are being reported correctly.
The UCPD has posted crime data for the last three years on its
Web site under a link titled “˜Clery Report.’ According
to UCPD spokesperson Nancy Greenstein, these numbers reflect all
alleged crimes that occurred on campus, on other UCLA properties
and in Westwood.
Michael Foraker, director of Housing Services, who works closely
with UCPD regarding crimes in on-campus housing areas, said he had
no concerns about the campus underreporting crime because
“it’s mandated by federal law and … the campus takes
it very seriously.”
EDC spokeswoman Diane Berry said about the Campus Sexual Assault
Report, one part of the EDC study, “We collected aggregate
data with the purpose (of giving) the government a first picture of
school compliance (with the Clery Act) or lack there of.”
The national report indicated 37 percent of American colleges
are deficient in their resources for dealing with sexual crimes.
But UCLA officials are confident the school is not only meeting
federal law, but campus needs as well.
The Clothesline Project is a campus group assisting in the goal
of preventing rape and sexual assault on campus. Sponsored by the
Social Welfare Department, the organization’s mission is to
build awareness of sexual violence. One of their main events is the
Clothesline Project Display, in which survivors of violent crimes
hang up T-shirts that express their pain. The purpose of this shirt
display is to both aid survivors in the healing process and to
raise awareness.
Additionally, the UCLA Center for Women and Men offers
counseling and referrals for survivors of sexual violence.
Tina Oakland, director of the center said, “No one should
have to go through the aftermath of a sexual assault
alone.”
In the case of a sex offense, the university standard procedure
is for the UCPD to transport the person to the Santa Monica UCLA
Hospital.
“Our first question is how do we get resources to the
student or staff member,” Greenstein said.
Though both UCPD and the Center for Women and Men cannot force
survivors to receive counseling or press legal charges against
their offender, they encourage them to do so. In addition to a UCPD
investigation, if the alleged crime occurred on campus or at any
university-sponsored event, the student has the option of filing a
complaint at the Dean of Students office.
Under the Student Conduct Code, in the case of an alleged rape
or sexual assault, both parties would be called to the Dean of
Students office. Information would be taken from both the accused
and accuser, which can result in conflicting accounts.
“If there are no witnesses (the case) will be referred to
the student conduct committee,” said Bob Naples, assistant
vice chancellor of student and campus life.
Even if a suspect is found not guilty by a court of law, the
student conduct committee may find the person guilty of sexual
misconduct because they have a lower burden of proof ““
requiring a preponderance of evidence, not a lack of reasonable
doubt.
Naples believes that UCLA is doing a satisfactory job responding
to rape and sexual assault.