The Clery Report: bringing darkness to light
Photo by Treasure Hardwick
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
Obtaining a college degree requires hard work, time and devotion. Students will inevitably at some point experience stress related to the piles of homework coupled with the need to balance a social life. However, a student should never have to deal with stress related to his or her safety on campus.
According to the National Center for Education, about 23 thousand crimes take place on college campuses every year. Leisurely walks around campuses are no longer an option. This is a frightening epidemic.
On April 5, 1986, 19-year-old Jeanne Clery was brutally raped and murdered in her dorm at Lehigh University. Clery’s parents, Howard and Connie Clery, believed that the university failed to share vital information about the campus’s safety. This tragedy compelled the Clerys to advocate for a law mandating information about the safety of college campuses.
The Clery Act was passed in 1990. This act federally mandated that every university must release an annual report on October 1. The report is officially known as the annual security and fire safety report.
The report discloses statistics on specific crimes that occur on or near college campuses. The crimes include but are not limited to sexual assault, burglary and hate crimes.
In addition to crime data, the Clery Report outlines safety policies, procedures and resources available to staff and students, including emergency response protocols and crime intervention efforts.
Jeff Smith, chief director of campus security and safety, strives daily to ensure that North Greenville continues to foster an environment where staff and students can freely enjoy comfort and safety.
“Our campus remains a safe environment thanks to increased patrol, heightened visibility and our ongoing effort to strengthen relationships with faculty, staff and students,” said Smith.
Smith explained that the Clery Report is a helpful resource to prospective students, as well as current students, because it informs them about any potential risks.
North Greenville’s 2023 report outlined a generally positive environment. The report did, however, include one incident of rape, and one incident of stalking. Although Smith was unable to speak on these occurrences, he did emphasize that these events did not include any external threats or broader safety concerns.
The 2023 report showed that North Greenville’s campus fosters a safe atmosphere. Outside risks have not threatened the school.
Embre Todd, sophomore business major at NGU, expressed her relief about living on a safe campus.
“I’ve never had an instance where I felt unsafe walking around at night. I’ve walked to my room alone in the dark plenty of times and never really had a second thought about it,” she said.
The Clery Act will continue to bring darkness to light on college campuses. The hope is that with increased efforts and patrol, every student will feel safe and secure as they strive to live a comfortable life on campus.
