Complying with the Clery Act on Campus
UH Hilo’s Campus Security Reports since May 2019
Staff Writer Holly S. Trowbridge
Graphic Designer Estreya Enquist
Since May 6, 2019, there have been seven reports of marijuana abuse, two reports of alcohol abuse, one account of burglary, and one account of domestic violence on campus. While reports of drug and alcohol-related violations have been the most common in the past few months, theft is traditionally been the most prevalent crime on campus, according to Rick Murray, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Director of Campus Security.
Because UH Hilo’s security services comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crimes Statistics Act (formerly known as the Campus Security Act and referred to as the Clery Act), crimes that occur on campus property are published on an annual basis in order to provide the information on UH Hilo’s Crime Awareness and Campus Security webpage lists these crimes as murder, negligent homicide, forcible and non forcible sex offenses, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Additionally, hate crimes, weapons offenses, drug and alcohol use and arrests are included.
While discussing the topic of the most prevalent crime reports on campus, Murray states that he believes the numbers on drug and alcohol-related reports would be much lower if the campus did not have residence halls.
“I think it is safe to say that there are more marijuana and alcohol violations than are reported, but our statistical analysis will show only what is reported.”
Murray continues that the UH Hilo website is very helpful in upholding the Clery Act. “We try to publish these things and make the information public so that anybody who was concerned would be able to see,” he says. Murray claims that UH Hilo is one of the safest places one can be, because although the campus faces crime like any other, there has only been one robbery in the past few years.