Chapman releases 2023 security, fire safety report, showcasing increases in rape, stalking cases
While aggravated assaults were down from previous years, stalking and rape reports increased. Graphic by SUKHMAN SAHOTA, Art Director
Trigger warning: Sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, rape
In 2021, there was one on-campus rape reported. However, last year, there were six — a 500% increase. And that only includes the ones that were reported to school officials.
On Sept. 29, Chapman University emailed its Annual Security & Fire Safety Report to the Chapman community, which details the occurrence of a wide variety of crimes, including hate crimes, criminal offenses and sex offenses in 2022.
According to the Office of Residence Life and First-Year Experience (RLFYE), student safety is their top priority.
“We are committed to providing a secure living environment, addressing concerns promptly, promoting community standards and offering support services for students,” said RLFYE Assistant Dean of Students Juan Tinoco.
However, some statistics from the report indicate that the Orange campus is becoming less safe, especially for female students. Last year, there were eight reported stalking incidents, and Public Safety’s daily crime and fire log indicated that by the first week of this semester, there had already been one reported rape.
Because of the ongoing issue of violence against women on campus and in general, Chapman Public Safety teaches a self-defense course that includes education and awareness called Rape Aggression Defense (RAD).
RAD is a non-credit comprehensive women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance while progressing to the basics of hands-on defense training. Students may sign up for the class by completing the waiver liability form, automatically placing them on an enrollment list for available classes.
When a report of sexual misconduct is made, the Title IX office immediately takes action.
“We reach out to the student and meet with them, along with an advisor if they wish, to walk through the process, provide information about supportive measures and gather information so (they) can understand which policy and process (or policies and processes) might be applicable,” said Colleen Wood, Chapman’s Title IX coordinator and the associate dean of students.
Chapman University has two sexual misconduct policies, which were changed and implemented last year. The Student Policy on Sexual Harassment Prohibited by Title IX applies to on-campus offenses. In contrast, the Student Policy on Sexual Harassment Prohibited by Senate Bill 493 applies to offenses that take place off-campus.
However, even if a victim comes forward, the school might not have the authority to start an investigation against the victim’s wishes.
“In the vast majority of cases, we can respect a student’s desire for the university not to investigate and simply provide them with the support they seek,” Wood told The Panther. “This is not the case if the incident involves a university employee.”
If a student has been a victim of a sexual offense on or off campus and would like to keep their identity hidden, they can anonymously submit a report to the Title IX office. However, Wood says it is used infrequently.
“Students can come forward and get support without sharing much information,” Wood said. “This may be a more valuable route for students — but I support students doing what is best for them.”
Aside from violence against women and sex offenses, another common crime on campus has been bicycle theft.
This September, eight reports of bicycle theft were made, along with one attempt and one instance where only tires were unlawfully removed. As a result, Public Safety now requires that all bicycle owners register their bikes, which is free for students with a valid ID. This must be done in person at the public safety department during normal business hours. The department also suggests using a quality Krypton U-Lock. For more safety suggestions, Public Safety has a Bicycle Rules and Regulations page.
If a student wishes to report instances of sexual misconduct, they can contact the following Chapman staff members:
Colleen Wood, the assistant dean of students and lead Title IX coordinator
Lauren Lockwood, program coordinator for student affairs
Dean of Students Office: (714) 997-6721
Public Safety Department: (714) 997-6763
Office of Human Resources: (714) 997-6686
Other crimes can be reported to Public Safety by calling (714) 997-6763 or stopping by their office at 418 N Glassell St., next to the Student Health Center.