Safety in numbers

Serious crime took a 20 percent dip in 2002 on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau over the previous year, according to the university's Department of Public Safety.

With more than 9,000 students -- about 2,400 of living on campus -- Southeast historically ranks among the lower 25 percent for crime among schools its size, DPS director Doug Richards said.

"It didn't happen by accident," he said. "I've seen a continued drop in crime since I've been here in 1987. Even with an increased enrollment, our crime rate is continuing to go down."

When choosing a university, safety is increasingly important in deciding which campuses to consider and which to avoid. That decision is made easier with crime statistics from more than 6,000 universities placed on the Internet by various state and federal agencies. According to those numbers, Southeast is perhaps the safest campus in the state.

It makes a difference for Southeast senior Andrea Burgfeld of Cape Girardeau. She was aware of the low crime rate from reading about it in campus literature.

"I feel good about it because I walk to school every day," she said. "That makes me feel safer knowing that. It's a good thing."

The department responded to 53,087 incidents in 2002, ranging from minor peace disturbances to more serious crimes. Larceny remained the biggest problem, with 70 incidents reported. Most involved theft of items valued under $500. Dearmont Hall, the Scully Building and Parking Area 3 behind the Show Me Center were the hot spots for theft in 2002, with each having at least five occurrences.

Vandalism took the No. 2 spot for property crimes with 46 reports in 2002. Liquor violations also continued to be a problem with 120 incidents.

Candid cameras

The addition of 56 video cameras in the last four years is a big part of the crime decline, Richards said. The powerful eyes in the sky over Towers Complex residence halls can zoom in to the white-capped waves on the Mississippi River a mile away.

"Criminals don't want to be videotaped," he said. "That's common sense. They'll do their homework, see that we have cameras and go do their crimes someplace else."

The cameras, emergency call boxes, improved lighting and the addition of a second night shuttle impressed graduate assistant and MBA student Chondamma Gummatira.

"I feel safe, because actually, I have most of my classes at night and I have to walk on campus alone," she said. "It's good to know."

Residence life director Jim Settle said Southeast has it better than universities patrolled only by unarmed security guards.

"Absolutely we feel safer," he said. "We have real commissioned officers, the majority of whom have had lengthy careers with other agencies before coming here. Having a real police force with a detective division that is concerned about what's happening on campus really helps."

The DPS recently added another officer, bringing its roster up to 17 full-time officers and four part-time officers. Eight other staff members and a student security unit also serve the campus. There is low turnover, with half of the officers serving at Southeast for more than a decade.

Cape Girardeau police Capt. Carl Kinnison said the two departments have a partnership that is enhanced because some of the city's former officers are now with the DPS.

"Many times we're involved in mutual investigations," he said. "It's not uncommon for something to begin on campus and end in the city, or vice versa."

The city has also seen a decline in crime, marked by an 18 percent drop in larcenies in 2002 over 2001, Kinnison said.

Ahead of the crowdSoutheast has published crime statistics since 1988, two years before universities were required to do so after former President George Bush signed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1990.

"We were already releasing our crime information, so it didn't really have an impact on us," Richards said. "We overreport by publishing more than the Department of Education says we have to. That helps to eliminate any perception of sweeping things under the rug."

Other than the DPS' annual report and the university Web site, Southeast promotes its low crime rate through literature sent to high schools, in-class schedules and at orientation meetings.

"That's one of the first questions they ask us at orientation, 'How safe is your school?'" Richards said.

Crime can affect enrollment and Southeast administrators consider safety a priority for the school's success, he said.

"The university administration is not going to compromise the safety of individuals or their property on campus," Richards said.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160