Several female Arizona State University students were allegedly sexually assaulted by a random stranger on the Tempe campus in a 30-minute span in April. The university described this as an isolated incident, but this is part of a larger trend of increasing on-campus crimes in the country. The Department of Education statistics show a national spike in on-campus crimes that have reverted to pre-pandemic highs. In addition to sexual assaults, there have been reports of murders, stabbings, and hate crimes on college campuses across the country. Antisemitic attacks are also on the rise since Hamas attacked Israel, leading to concerns about safety and security on college campuses.
The number of reported criminal offenses at colleges and universities increased significantly in 2022, with over 38,000 incidents reported. This is a sharp increase from 2020 when there were around 21,200 reported incidents. The surge in on-campus crimes is attributed to a return to in-person learning after the pandemic. The increase in criminal activity is fueled by sex crimes, according to reports. Students and families are on high alert due to the series of violent crimes happening around college campuses, leading to concerns about safety and security for those attending higher education institutions.
One of the most prestigious schools in the country, the University of California, Berkeley, has been at the center of the campus crime debate. The SafeBears, a group of concerned parents and community allies, have taken safety matters into their own hands by hiring private security to protect university students. The group cited a significant increase in violent crime in and around the campus, including shootings, robberies, and break-ins. The decision to hire private security sparked a feud with university leaders, who voiced concerns about the training and experience of individuals hired by such firms.
Experts have not reached definitive conclusions about what is fueling the spike in on-campus crimes, but factors such as a full return to school with the pandemic receding, and overseas conflicts like the Hamas invasion of Israel, may be contributing to the increase in criminal activity. Despite a decrease in violence, particularly murder, in the U.S., college and university crimes are on the rise, leading to concerns among parents and students. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, who previously supported defunding the police, has created a crime-prevention coalition to address the increase in criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable.
Crime analyst Jeff Asher notes that murders are down around 20 percent in 2024 in over 180 cities with available data, despite widespread perceptions that crime is increasing. However, colleges and universities continue to see a rise in on-campus crimes, leading to concerns among parents and community groups. Programs like SafeBears at UC Berkeley are being implemented to hold the university and local authorities accountable and advocate for increased safety measures on campus. It remains unclear if on-campus crimes will stabilize or if initiatives like SafeBears will become more common to address the ongoing safety concerns.
