Students Fired Up About Campus Security

Similar Study Abroad Laws Do NOT Exist!

According to an article in Doane Line, May 12, 2013 published by 'Beat Reporting Class'.  The reporting class was doing an audit of public records on Doane’s campus and within the communities of Crete and Wilber to determine compliance with state and federal law.  They reported Doane Safety Office failed, breaking both state and federal laws by failing to provide an 'incident report' without question.
The Clery Act and the Nebraska Open Records Law both require colleges and universities to provide public records concerning campus and community-based incidents upon request without question.  The article reported that safety administrator Michael Dixon, ".. demanded an email request for the documents before safety would comply. An email was sent as requested, and following another visit to the Safety Office an email reply containing the information was sent a week later."  
In April, 2013 twelve (12) students filed a federal complaint against Swathmore College for violating Clery Act according to an article in the Daily Gazette. Specifically, the complaint addresses a lack of safety and security reporting on sexual assaults on campus.   The article reports, "In their complaint, Ferguson and Brinn bring six allegations of misconduct against the college:
1. Discouraging students from reporting crime to local law enforcement and from going through formal judiciary proceedings
2. Persistently underreporting incidents of sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape in the Annual Clery Security Report
3. Persistently underreporting incidents of sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape in the daily crime log
4. Failing to issue timely reports of incidents of sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape
5. Failing to publicly report potential sanctions for sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape
6. Intimidating, discriminating, and retaliating against sexual assault and rape survivors and their advocates
Their complaint will be reviewed by the Department of Education and may be granted an investigation in as soon as two weeks."
Failure to comply with the Clery Act means Doane & Swathmore Colleges risk losing federal financial aid and could mean a $35,000 fine.  Sadly, similar laws to mandate transparency on student travel and study abroad programs DO NOT exist.  Please use your VOICE!  Write to state and federal policy to ask for oversight, guidelines, qualifications and transparency.

The Clery Act for Security on Campus - was set in place after Jeanne Cleary was brutally raped, sodomized, strangled with a wire cord, bitten, and mutilated with a broken bottle in her third floor door room.  Security on Campus mandates that every campus publish their "Clery Incident Report" and make it available upon request.  Every student and parent should read this report before enrolling.  Similar reports should be mandated before going abroad.
Rape, sexual assault and unwanted touching are under reported.  If you need help contact RAINN - Rape and Incent National Network - the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.

We rely on your generosity to advance Safe Global Youth Travel.  Please GIVE NOW.