UPD releases annual security and fire safety report

As of Sept. 29, 2022, SUNY Geneseo’s University Police Department (UPD) released a security and fire safety report. The annual report is a twenty-one-page document that displays all reported crime, fire emergencies, and safety regulations for campus and the surrounding area.

According to the Jeanne Cleary Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Statistics Act, all educational institutions that receive federal funding, such as colleges and universities, are required by law to report and disseminate information regarding crime, fire, and other safety related information to students, staff, faculty, and the general public. 

According to The Clery Center, The Jeanne Cleary Act was named after Jeanne Cleary, a student raped and murdered in her college dorm in 1986. Cleary was 19-years-old at the time. 

Clery’s parents claimed in court that their daughter would still be alive if they had known that the university that Clery attended was in a high-crime area, as Clery would have attended a different institution in a safer area. To increase transparency around safety on and around college campuses, The Clery Act was written into law, requiring colleges to report and disseminate information about safety concerns both on and off campus. 

This year’s report was sent out to students via email on Sept. 29, 2022. The report includes information about safety resources available to students, including the UPD Non-Emergency phone number (585) 245-5651, UPD Emergency phone number (585) 245-5222, and the offices and contact information of the Title IX Coordinator, Residence Life, The Dean of Students, The Coordination of Health Promotion etc. 

The report also contains important definitions, such as aggravated assault, burglary, arson, consent, stalking, dating violence, criminal homicide, and negligent manslaughter, among others. The report shows the crime statistics that have been reported to UPD between 2019-2021.

For example, in 2021, there were 94 alcohol violations, all of which occurred in the residence halls. There were 14 drug violations, 12 of which occurred in the residence halls. In addition, there have been no murders or non-negligent manslaughters reported on campus between 2019-2021; however, there was one report of rape on campus in 2021 that was reported, compared to three rapes reported in 2019. 

In 2019, there were nine on-campus burglaries reported in the residence halls, and two burglaries reported off-campus. No hate crimes have been reported between 2019 and 2021 on or off-campus. 

In addition, there have been no on-campus fires reported until 2021. In Wyoming hall, a vacuum cleaner caught fire and was put out with an extinguisher. There were no injuries, deaths, or property damage associated with the fire. 

If students suspect a crime is occurring or about to occur, or have concerns about campus or individual safety, students are encouraged to contact University Police at their non-emergency phone number, (585) 245-5651, or their emergency phone number, (585) 245-5222. Students are encouraged to program these numbers into their phone for ease of use.