Crime Down on Campus
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
University of South Carolina Scholar Commons December 2008 12-3-2008 The aiD ly Gamecock, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 University of South Carolina, Office oftude S nt Media Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_dec Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, Office of Student Media, "The aiD ly Gamecock, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008" (2008). December. 3. https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/gamecock_2008_dec/3 This Newspaper is brought to you by the 2008 at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in December by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Mix Sports USC Dance takes the Women’s basketball stage with student pieces. prepares for Wake Forest. See page 7 See page 10 dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 VOL. 102, NO. 71 ● SINCE 1908 2007 USC CRIME STATISTICS USC has seen a decrease in campus crime overall since 2006, while the number of on-campus burglaries has nearly doubled over the year. ROBBERIES Crime down on campus Though theft, larceny arrests offi cers. have increased drastically from 2007. Disciplinary actions toward drug law Ellis said changes for the department in decline from previous years, violations and liquor law violations also fell 2008 include trying to increase USCPD’s students should stay cautious by 58 percent and 30 percent respectively, presence on campus. though arrests for liquor law violations “We are encouraging our offi cers to do Jonathan Battaglia & Kara Apel went up. more bike patrols,” Ellis said. THE DAILY GAMECOCK Burglary remains the most prevalent Ellis cautions students to watch out crime on-campus and in residence halls, for property crimes, as they may become The annual security report for 2007, with a rise from 47 to 91 incidents on more common with the downfall of the ARRESTS compiled by the USC Division of Law campus between 2006 and 2007. Ellis economy. Enforcement and Safety, reveals an said this doesn’t necessarily mean there “As the economy worsens, property overall decrease in campus crimes, though has been an increase in the actual crimes increase,” Ellis said, “We may see a burglary has increased. Total crime was number of incidents, but the government rise in those types of crimes.” down nearly 13 percent from 2006 and has broadened the definition of what is Ellis advises students to use a “sense of more than 26 percent from 2005. considered to be a burglary. caution” to avoid getting their property Significant declines were seen in Though not as widespread as it was damaged or stolen. larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and from 2003 to 2005, bicycle theft increased “When you park your vehicle make sure % drug law arrests. 32 percent in 2007, totaling a value of there are no valuables visible. When you’re $ “We’re very excited,” said Ernie Ellis, $12,132 in 2007. in your dorm room make sure your items director of the USC Division of Law The Web site for are secured. When you leave your room, Enforcement and Safety. “But we can’t take the USC Division of lock your door.” all the credit. It’s hard to exactly attribute Law Enforcement Some students, like fi rst-year business a decrease in crime to one thing.” said the most student Brett Rudisel, feel comfortable on Ellis said the Carolina community and prominent area for campus. the USC administration also contributed theft is the Thomas “I feel pretty safe on campus,” Rudisel greatly to the decrease in crime. Cooper Library, and said. “I’m not too worried about getting “Many members of the community have it is not uncommon mugged or anything, unless I’m walking reached out to us,” Ellis said. ELLIS for non-students around at like 2 a.m.” CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY According to Ellis, community members to wait and steal. Despite the emergency call boxes were very helpful about coming forward as The most vulnerable items for theft are located at various places on campus, some witnesses and reporting suspicious activity textbooks and laptops, according to the students, like fi rst-year print journalism '&& 5& on campus. Web site. student Sara Leary, think more needs to 4& The administration’s support was Garage incidents decreased from 86 to be done to combat crime. 3& crucial too. 60 incidents, with the Bull Street Garage “The call boxes clearly aren’t enough,” 2& “They have supported the programs to having half of all reported occurrences. Leary said. “So many crimes occurred in 1& make Carolina a little bit safer,” Ellis said. According to the Sexual Health and the women’s quad in the beginning of the 0& “We are fortunate the administration Violence Prevention Offi ce, there were 34 semester.” )& funded our community safety offi cers.” harassment/stalking incidents, 28 sexual Ellis said the call boxes are used and (& Ellis said students who are “the eyes assaults and 28 reports of relationship that they do make a difference. '& and ears” on campus that report back violence in 2007. & to the USC Law Enforcement & Safety Though the numbers aren’t in for 2008 Comments on this story? E-mail Department have been very benefi cial to yet, Ellis did not seem to think crimes [email protected] " #! ! SAFETY TIPS • Don’t walk alone after dark. Early evening to late evening, • Familiarize yourself with call box locations. travel only in groups of three or more in well lit and traveled • Don’t carry large sums of cash. areas. Use the APO Escort Services, 803-777-DUCK or • Get a good description of the attacker and locate a call for a police escort 803-777-4215. safe area in the event of an encounter. • When traveling in your vehicle, keep windows and doors • If attacked or approached by someone suspicious, KEY locked. contact the police immediately by calling 911, or use • If approached, don’t resist a robber, especially if he has a the nearest call box. weapon. • Never venture into or through dark or undesirable Source: www.les.sc.edu neighborhoods. — Information from the USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety Web site. --Infographic by Lizzie Erickson RHA rejects proposed reparation Vote now at capitalonebowl.com Sport mural in the Roost fails plywood boards and fixed to the covering to protect any new mural If Cocky beats out Iowa wall would cost around $4,800, from vandalism. State University’s mascot to get money for renovation said Jordan, a second-year history “I think the only real way to do Cocky Cy at the end of the Cy student. it is plywood boards, all at once,” week, he will compete Lindsay Wolfe The bill said the Roost would Jordan said. “Everyone hates long 321,828 votes against either Thundar 330,363 votes THE DAILY GAMECOCK cover $750 of the project but get the construction jobs. I would say get it from North Dakota State rest from D-19, RHA’s renovation done in one fell swoop.” or Testudo from the A bill that would have provided fund. Also looking toward next University of Maryland in $4,050 to repaint a sports mural Treasurer Ben Ortiz-Colon said semester, RHA President the fi nals. in the Roost was rejected by the the renovation fund has around Jaime Shook said that her main Residence Hall Association during $11,000. Many senators said they concerns are smooth transitions, Tue sday ’s meet i ng. were concerned that the bill called sustainability and the Hands for Roost Sen. Sean Jordan said the for more than a third of the funds. Hunger poker tournament. mural, which features sports logos “All that going into a single Shook, a third-year public of every school in the Southeastern hallway in a single dorm is, I think, relations student, said that RHA Conference, has been badly almost excessive,” said Maxcy Sen. elections will be in February and she scratched and worn down over the Troy Straub, a first-year business will work with the new government years and repairing it would also student. to ease the transition. repair some of the Roost’s feelings Jordan said he would work on VS. of neglect. redrafting the bill for next semester Comments on this story? E-mail Having the logos painted on and would request a Plexiglas [email protected] Sports The Mix Opinion............... 6 TODAY THURSDAY Crime report............ 2 Sports Editor Michael Aguilar SakiTumi offers delicious blend Puzzles................ 9 analyzes potential Gamecock bowl of Japanese and Southern Comics................ 9 Classifi ed.................. 12 competition. See page 11 fl a v o r . See page 7 59 35 61 38 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008 pageTWO Wednesday PIC OF THE DAY Carolina Card distribution for sophomores Fun Facts 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Russell House Ballroom Rummage for Measles 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Greene Street Cocky Choose to Lose 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. RH, Room 305 • Cocky fi rst started appearing at Choral Concert 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Rutledge Chapel USC events in 1980. Greek Programming Board meeting • Other USC mascots were Th e 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. RH, Room 315 Keri Goff / THE DAILY GAMECOCK These unique paintings were on sale on Tuesday at the Farmer’s Market and were Student Senate meeting Rooster (1971-1973) and Big Spur 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. created by the well-known, local painter Ernest Lee a.k.a “The Chickenman Artist.” RH, Rooms 322/326 (1974-1979). Students Tackling Academic Recovery Local National World 6 p.m.