Annual Security Report shows increase in arson in 2014

Public Safety’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report,  released Oct. 1, showed an increase in arson on or near Chapman University’s campus in 2014.

In 2013, there were no arson reports, but 2014 brought 13 incidents of arson, six of which were on campus and one that was classified as a racial hate crime. Public Safety’s report defines arson as “any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn.”

“The main cause (of the increase) is we had one person that went around and set like four or five trashcan fires in one day,” said Randy Burba, chief of Public Safety.

Mark Davis, the fire and life safety manager at Chapman, said that most of the incidents involved students attempting to start a fire, meaning there was a flame, but the fire didn’t take off.

The report shows that on July 4, 2014, there were two fires in Sandhu Hall. The first was a piece of paper that was intentionally lit on fire and placed in the bushes by Sandhu, and the second was trash that was lit on fire and thrown in the dumpster in the Sandhu parking lot.

Jerry Price, vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, wants to stress that the events were sporadic and did not show a trend.

“Arson concerns me. It’s very scary stuff,” Price said. “This really isn’t something that has been on our radar very much. I think that if you look at the reports individually, they don’t look like any kind of pattern or trend that would lead us to believe there is some kind of evolution or change in risk.”

Chapman’s Student Conduct Code states that arson, causing a false alarm or tampering with or obstructing the fire alarm system, smoke detectors, sprinkler system, emergency exits, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, exit signs and other equipment is not only prohibited, but also a federal offense.

In the older dorm buildings – such as North and South Morlan, the Davis and Harris Apartments, Panther Village and other Chapman properties – there are no sprinkler systems, as the buildings were built prior to it being a requirement.

Davis said that students and faculty need to be aware of what’s happening on campus.

“(Arson is) an awareness thing,” Davis said. “Our officers are aware of signs to look for, but it’s also an awareness from students … to be aware of signs or suspicious activity and report it. When we did have the arson, we put out a crime bulletin so that students would be aware.”

 On Dec. 17, 2014, an arson-related hate crime was reported when a swastika was found burned into the ceiling of a dorm room in Pralle-Sodaro Hall. The hate crime shook many students and still has an impact today.

“Who would draw a swastika on the ceiling?” said junior business administration major Conner Svetly. “To my family, especially being Jewish, it’s something that is like engrained in our minds as something that is absolute hatred for who we are.”