Brennan LaBrie
News Editor
Pacific Lutheran University released its Annual Safety Report on September 30, which presented relatively stable numbers in crime and student conduct violations between 2018 and 2019.
Distinctions are made on the report between residential campus property, non-residential campus property, and public property, which denotes sidewalks and roads adjacent to the campus’s perimeters. Data goes back to 2017.
Notable statistics from the report
Burglaries on campus dropped from nine to four between 2018 and 2019, and from eleven in 2017. There were three cases of aggravated assault, up from one in 2018 but down from eight in 2017, and one robbery.
Motor vehicle theft remained steady at ten cases, rising by four on non-residential campus property and falling by four on public property.
There were two weapons laws violations in 2019, up from zero in past years.
Domestic violence remained level at two cases, and dating violence incidents rose from zero to two in that time.
However, the number of rape cases on campus rose from one to six between 2018 and 2019, and both years saw one case of “sexual assault — fondling.”
There continued to be no cases of murder, negligent manslaugher, arson, or hate crimes on campus.
Alcohol-related student conduct violations sat at 36 in both 2018 and 2019, and drug-related student conduct violations rose from 16 to 21 in that span. There were two drug-related and one alcohol-related arrests by Pierce County Sheriff officers just off campus.
The numbers for both drug and alcohol-related student conduct violations are significantly lower than in 2017, when they sat at 57 and 71, respectively.
Detective Sergeant Tara Simmelink, Director of Campus Safety, believes that this drop in violations correlates to a “philosophical shift” that the university made in recent years, from a “reactive” one to one based around an “ethos of care.” Specifically, she attributes this change to the growth of PLU’s student care network, to which students and staff can be referred via “Care Forms” by those who worry for their health and wellbeing.
“The continued increase in Care Forms shows the value of proactive response and outreach to students,” Simmelink said. “I believe the trend will continue with a decrease in these types of student conduct as the university continues with the ethos of care provided to students.”
Simmelink added that no other data points on the report struck her as out of the ordinary.
Effects of COVID-19 on Campus Safety
The closure of PLU’s campus and shift to remote learning in the Spring did not affect Campus Safety’s operations, Simmelink said, as their officers continued to patrol the campus 24/7. They did cancel their shuttle service due to COVID safety precautions, however. Overall, Campus Safety has increased their responsibilities in order to support students, faculty and administration working remotely, Simmelink said.
“We have learned to remain flexible as we adjust to COVID safety standards in our daily tasks, but our commitment to promote and sustain a safe environment through service and engagement with the campus community remains the same,” Simmelink said.
Tips on Student Safety from Campus Safety:
Simmelink said that staying safe on and near campus starts with personal responsibility, which includes looking after yourself and your personal property.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” she advised. “Avoid walking alone, particular at night. I encourage students to walk with a friend or call Campus Safety for a walking escort. As you walk around campus keep your head up and be looking around, this will let others know you are paying attention to what is happening around you.”
Simmelink also stressed the importance of reporting “unsafe or suspicious behaviors” as soon as possible, and not assuming that others have already done so. Students should lock their doors and not allow any strangers into their house or building. As for vehicles, Simmelink recommends students always park in well-lit areas such as PLU parking lots, displaying PLU parking decals in the window, and never leaving valuables inside your vehicle.
Campus Safety’s non-emergency number is (253) 535-7441, their emergency number is
(253) 535-7911, and students can request walking escorts at (253) 535-4771. These numbers should be saved in all students’ phones, Simmelink said.
