Texan Mosaic

by Desiree Lopez

An increase in stalking and motor vehicle theft, along with a decrease in burglary, are among the reported in the 2018 Annual Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Report.

Dr. Stan DeMerritt, vice president of Student Affairs, had assistance from Dr. Lynn Cleavinger, dean of students, and Nickolis Castillo, chief of the South Plains College Police Department, with collecting information and disseminating the report before Oct. 1.

It is required by law that all post-secondary institutions receiving federal financial assistance disclose campus crime statistics and security information every year, according to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1990.

One case of rape was reported on public property in Levelland in 2018, while no cases were reported the previous year, therefore, showing a slight increase.

Cases of fondling decreased from one case to zero, while cases of aggravated assault also decreased from four cases in 2017 to zero in 2018.

Two cases of burglary were reported on campus property in student housing facilities on the Levelland campus, which is a decrease from the four reported cases in the 2017 crime report.

Only one case of motor vehicle theft was reported for on-campus properties in 2018, while two cases were reported on public property.

There were no cases of incest, statutory rape, robbery, or arson reported on the Levelland campus in 2018.

In 2018, one case of domestic violence was reported on public property in Levelland, which shows a small increase compared to zero in 2017. Cases of dating violence decreased from one to zero in 2018 for on-campus student housing facilities.

The number of stalking cases increased from zero to eight on on-campus properties, and two out of those eight were at on-campus student housing facilities.

“We have a case with multiple reports involving the same person,” said Dr. DeMerritt, vice president for student affairs, at the October meeting of the South Plains College Board of Regents meeting. “So that’s why it looks inflated than what it usually is.”

These stalking cases were all reported from the Levelland campus.

One arrest was made in 2018 for carrying or possession of a weapon at an on-campus student housing facility. No disciplinary referrals were given for carrying or possessing a weapon on the Levelland campus.

Three arrests were made for drug abuse violations on on-campus property, and one of them was at an on-campus student housing facility. This is a slight increase from zero arrests reported in 2017. A total of 14 disciplinary referrals were reported for drug abuse violations in 2018, declining from 19 in 2017.

A total of 21 arrests were made in 2018 for liquor law violations, while a total of 19 disciplinary referrals were given on the Levelland campus. Both totals are decreases from the 2017 report, which included 28 arrests and 47 disciplinary referrals.

“We know for a fact, that if you look at disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations, we had a group of students in the fall of 2016 that continued into the spring of 2017 that continued to cause problems for us,” explains Dr. DeMeritt.

Three fires were also reported in 2018. An accidental grease fire occurred in one of the Smallwood apartments, which had property damage of $100. In Lamar Hall, a lit sparkler caused a fire with no property damage. Lastly, in the kitchen of North Sue Hall, a fire caused by burned popcorn was reported, but there was no property damage.

According to the Annual Security Report, South Plains College’s goal is to create a truly safe campus that can be achieved through the full cooperation of all students, faculty, and staff.

“We take care of this (report) every day and try to make sure that we’re taking care of what we need to report and being very transparent with it and not hiding numbers, not inflating numbers, not ventilating numbers and being very truthful with what we find,” explains Dr. DeMeritt.

It is encouraged to act responsibly, work collaboratively together, and whenever possible assist each other to promptly, accurately and effectively report all unsafe incidents and criminal offenses to campus security authorities or responsible employees.

The Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Report can be found on the SPC website at http://www.southplainscollege.edu/studentconsumerinformation.php under Security, Crime, and Fire Safety Reports.