WILMINGTON — Security data for 2022 from the state’s universities are out and sexual assault, drug and alcohol offenses have risen slightly at UNCW.
READ MORE: Reports of sexual assault, stalking at UNCW continued to rise in 2021
UNCW’s Annual Security Report is published each year in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The data is compiled for the previous three years concerning crimes that occurred on campus, in off-campus property owned or controlled by UNCW, and on public property immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.
Leigh Fickling, interim director of Title IX and Clery compliance, presented the data to the UNCW board of trustees at their Oct. 13 meeting.
On-campus rape reports have increased from 14 in 2021 to 16 incidents in 2022, having doubled in two years according to the data. One additional rape report was made for an off-campus property.
Comparatively, the City of Wilmington experienced a 13% decrease in rape reports from 91 to 79 in 2022, though this only accounts for police reports. UNCW’s data comes from its university police, Title IX office, counseling services and other sources.
Dating violence has also increased by two incidents totaling nine for 2022, while domestic violence increased from zero to one incident. All occurrences were reported as on-campus.
Studies show sexual assault is one of the more prevalent on college campuses compared with other crimes. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. College women ages 18 to 24 are three times more likely than all women to experience sexual violence.
The risk is higher for undergraduate students in their first few semesters of college as they adjust to adult independence. Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. RAINN research shows more than 50% of college sexual assaults occur in the “red zone” between the start of class and Thanksgiving break.
Most of the trustees’ questions Fickling revolved around rape and other sexual assault reports. Trustee Carlton Fisher asked if the trends show rape is increasing. Fickling said it “ebbs and flows,” but the increase in reports doesn’t necessarily correlate with an increase in rapes.
“It is becoming easier to be able to report and we’re doing a great job; we’re training our security authorities and making students aware of how they will be able to file an incident if that happens,” Fickling said.
Meanwhile, on-campus stalking and fondling incidents decreased, according to the data. While 29 instances of stalking were reported in 2021, only six were disclosed for 2022. There were zero fondling reports made in 2022, down from seven in 2021.
The interim director also noted students are still emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, when students lacked social interaction to inform their adulthood.
Trustees were also told to bear in mind the reports have not necessarily been investigated and did not reflect arrests made. The data only shows reports made to university employees and campus police. Three places — the student health center, counseling services, and Collaboration for Assault Response and Education office — are confidential resources exempt from reporting to the Title IX office.
Fickling also explained to trustees UNCW’s data was very similar to its peer institutions.
With 17,843 students, UNCW is closest in enrollment to UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State, with 17,978 and 20,346 students respectively. According to Appalachian State’s security report, there were 15 reports of rape in 2022 compared to eight the year prior. There were six dating violence reports (up from one), 15 stalking reports (up from five) and four fondling reports (no change). There was only one domestic violence report, down from two in 2021.
UNCG saw a similar increase. Rape reports rose to seven from six. Fondling increased from three reports to five, dating violence doubled to 14 reports, and domestic violence remained at zero. Like UNCW, stalking reports decreased; the report shows four instances in 2022 versus 10 in 2021.
Alcohol violations were also on the rise at UNCW, according to the report. Liquor law referrals — when a student receives disciplinary action — totaled 395 in 2022 compared to 236 in 2021 and 361 in 2020; although there were only 13 arrests for alcohol violations, down from 26 and 19 in the previous two years.
Drug law violations were down on the local campus. The 2022 data shows 68 referrals and arrests were 58; compared with previous years, referrals were the same in 2021 and lower, at 40, in 2020, while arrests also remained the same last year, but were much higher in 2020, with 74.
Despite the trend extending across the state, trustee Aldona Woś said at the October meeting, “some of the numbers are striking.” She asked who was charged with prevention and education.
Fickling replied the responsibility was a team effort across many departments and resources, and a lot of the focus is on education. First-year students must complete a module on sexual assault and substance use during orientation.
There are also several educational programs hosted by university subsidiaries. University police have self-defense classes each semester that are free to students, while employees must undergo training on sexual assault and dating violence. Programs are offered to the student body on being an effective bystander, gaining consent and exercising respect, dating app guidance, and health relationship coaching.
As for substance use, UNCW offers Crossroads that promotes thoughtful and healthy decision-making regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. It is also used for remediation in student sanction cases. There are four other programs, including one called Tiki Bar where students learn to pour and “measure” drinks and another that debunks myths around cannabis.
Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com
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