By Andrew Mannion and Isaiah Rosario, Staff Writers
Public Safety has published the 2022 edition of the annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report shows continuously improving statistics almost across the board, including declining statistics in burglary, liquor law violations, aggravated assault and rape.
The report shows how Manhattan College remains overall a safe campus within New York City.
Liquor law violations are the only statistic on the report with lengthy numbers. In 2021, Manhattan College found 133 violations, none of which led to arrest. Although this is the most significant number in the report, it shows improvements from previous years.
In 2020, the violations totaled 150. The number of liquor law violations decreased from the prior year, as in 2019 there were 276 offenses.
Drug abuse violations have also shown a declining pattern, going from 124 in 2019 to 27 in 2020 and 11 in 2021.
AJ Goodman, director of residence life, accredited the control procedures for declining liquor law violations.
“I think improved access control procedures have been a major factor in this,” Goodman said. “The requirement that all visitors are registered with Public Safety ensures that there is accountability for both the host taking responsibility for their guest’s behavior, as well as for on-campus visitors to know that they were identified entering the building.”
The control procedures allude to the alcohol regulations. Manhattan College has standard alcohol regulations, including that no person under the age of 21 may possess or consume alcohol as well as possess false evidence of age that is for purchasing or possessing alcoholic beverages.
If a student were to break these rules, they would generally receive parental notification, mandatory educational programming, revocation of privileges and fines.
The report also includes impressive statistics of no robbery, domestic/dating violence, or aggravated assault reports. Reports of theft, domestic violence, and aggravated assault have been reported over the past three years. In 2019, were there two reports of dating violence.
The department of Public Safety has been continuously working on maintaining a safe campus. Peter DeCaro, the director of public safety at Manhattan College, played a major role in maintaining the safety of Manhattan College. DeCaro explained to The Quadrangle some of the security procedures that are in place to ensure the safety of students and staff on campus.
“[There are] uniformed Public Safety officers on campus patrol twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, and this is indeed a deterrent to criminal activity,” DeCaro said. “Additionally, we maintain an excellent working relationship with the NYPD’s 50th Precinct which provides police service to our campus. I confer regularly with Captain Girven, Commanding Officer of the 50th Precinct, regarding local crime trends or issues that could affect our campus.”
Continuing the safety of Manhattan college is just as important as reviewing the statistics. Public Safety continues searching for ways to improve campus security. DeCaro alluded to having an emphasis on the buildings to help monitor campus activities.
“The College and Public Safety take a proactive approach in maintaining and enhancing safety and security on campus,” DeCaro said. “This includes, but is not limited to, continuing to expand the use of card access for building entry, the installation of additional security cameras, and a regular review of security technology, protocols and staffing on campus.”
This annual report shows promising statistics as Manhattan College strives to be a safer campus. MC students value the safety of campus as well. Mike Butkiewicz, freshman finance major, explains the importance of safety to him as a resident on campus.
“Safety is very important to me,” Butkiewicz said. “I try my best to keep myself and the community here as safe as possible. [Manhattan College] makes it easy for me to do that here.”