Recent statistics released by campus police appear to show that the number of sexual offenses and alcohol-related referrals dropped significantly on the Fairfax campus between 2008 and 2009. Sexual offenses reported in the Annual Security Report dropped from 11 in 2008 to five in 2009 and alcohol-related referrals dropped from 256 in 2008 to 151 in 2009.
Alcohol-related arrests dropped slightly, from 185 in 2008 to 162 in 2009, and drug arrests increased from 52 in 2008 to 71 in 2009.
There were five on-campus sexual offenses reported in 2009, and they all occurred in student residences. The number, however, is not indicative of the amount of sexual assaults that occurred against Mason students.
The ASR must adhere to federal guidelines in reporting crimes, said Lt. Kevin Barrett, who put together the report for the George Mason University Police Department. Those reporting requirements mean that some sexual assaults that do not fall within the guidelines are not included in the report.
“It’s really hard to get a picture of the numbers,” said Connie Kirkland, director of Sexual Assault Services at Mason.
Kirkland said that last year SAS handled “88 or 90” cases, with a few of those being dating violence or stalking, and that a majority of those cases occurred off-campus. Off-campus sexual assaults are not reported in the ASR.
Also, sexual assaults are notoriously underreported with a report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics stating that between 1992 and 2000 74 percent of sexual assaults were not reported to police.
Kirkland, who has worked with SAS since it was founded at Mason, said she believes maybe only a tenth or a hundredth of what actually happens is reported.
“I think it’s because a lot of people just blame themselves for what happened,” Kirkland said.
The latest information found shows that across the nation 55 percent of rapes/ sexual assaults were reported to police, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2009 National Crime Victimization Survey released on Oct. 13.
“We count the ones that are reported to us,” Barrett said. “I feel pretty sure that there are a few other incidents that are not reported to us. But we do encourage everybody that believes to be a victim of an assault to come in and report it to us.”
Barrett said that he works close with SAS to ensure that the ASR reflects all the assaults that occur on campus.
ASR statistics also show that alcohol referrals were about 40 percent lower in 2009 than in 2008. However that does not necessarily mean that it is a downward trend, Barrett said.
“I look at it as a difference in reporting,” said Barrett. He said that doesn’t mean reporting has gotten any better or worse, but that it reflects evolving reporting standards as well as acquisition of better reporting tools which ensure more accurate information.
has gotten any better or worse, but that it reflects evolving reporting standards as well as acquisition of better reporting tools which ensure more accurate information.
ASR also includes statistics for other Mason campuses, a fire safety report, safety tips, university policies and regulations, and information about police services on campus. One of those services is the police Escort Service. GMUPD will provide an escort, either a police cadet or a police officer, for Mason “students, faculty or staff,” on campus at night. The number for the Escort Service is 703-993-4357 or people can use a designated button on the emergency call boxes on campus, according to the ASR.
“When you look at our crime stats I think they are very boring,” Barrett said. “We are probably relatively safe compared to most (other campuses).”
George Mason University Police Department released the Annual Security Report to the public on Oct. 1. The ASR is available at the police station or online at http://www.gmu.edu/depts/police/annualsecurity.htm.
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