April 03, 2018
The Role of Clery Act Alerting Measures on Campus Today
The latest string of school shootings, most notably the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL in February, reignited national conversation on gun access and gun violence. Such incidents on any campus—K12 or higher education—raise questions for all institutions as to how they prepare for the unexpected and work to prevent future incidents.
Thankfully, some of the most familiar aspects of Clery Act requirements create structures for campus crime response—including alerting members of the campus community if there are any immediate or ongoing threats. Think about the update on your institution’s homepage warning of a string of robberies or the emails informing community members that a suspect for an aggravated assault on campus has been identified but not yet apprehended. Without the Clery Act, messages like these might not be sent at all. The Clery Act requires institutions to alert their campuses by issuing a timely warning if a Clery-specific crime occurring within Clery-specific geography poses a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community. Clery crimes include homicide, aggravated assault and weapons law violations, among other things.
The Act also requires institutions to issue emergency notifications when an emergency threatening the health and safety of the campus community occurs on campus. Emergencies can range from a chemical spill in the science lab to an unexpected tornado to an active shooter.
As commonplace as they might seem now, emergency notifications were not a Clery Act requirement until 2008, when they were added with the renewal of the Higher Education Act. The deadly shooting at Virginia Tech in April 2007 forced a conversation on whether or not the Clery Act timely warning requirement provided enough of a mechanism to warn the campus about immediate emergencies like an active shooter incident. Today, campuses are required to assess whether or not there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation that warrants a notification to the campus community.
Campuses sometimes struggle with communicating the intention of timely warnings and emergency notifications and the distinctions between their uses. Many campuses do not want to water down the significance of such warnings by over-issuing them but also want to make sure their campus is aware of any potential risk that might impact their overall well-being.
Because national incidents often lead to questions and concerns from your own campus community, consider using this month to revisit or publicize your own timely warning or emergency notification policies. Here are some suggestions for Clery team tasks:
- Review your timely warning and emergency notification policies for compliance. Use this resource to understand which alert should be sent depending on the circumstances of the incident in question.
- Create a one-pager that describes the function of timely warnings and emergency notifications and how campus community members will receive necessary information in an emergency.
- Film a short video or launch an awareness campaign explaining the difference between timely warnings and emergency notifications and how to sign up for your institution’s alerts (if you have an opt-in system).
- Organize a working group to examine current timely warning practices (method of issuing alerts, language in alerts) to determine possible policy or practice changes, if needed.
- Organize a test (drill or exercise) of your emergency response and evacuation procedures as required by Clery. Coordinate with local first responders.
Clery alerting measures are a crucial tool in promoting a culture of transparency and support on a college campus. Without them, community members would not know about patterns of crime, situations to avoid or be aware of, or how to be a vigilant community member working to ensure the safety and well-being of fellow community members. Alerting requirements under the Clery Act create an assurance that we often forget was not always part of the college experience.
Colleges and universities will best serve their campus communities through utilizing these types of alerts, when appropriate, and through direct education as to when and why each alert is employed. Engaging in such action ensures a balance between protecting the rights of students and honoring transparency as well as promoting the importance of the overall well-being of the campus community.
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May 14, 2018
Kristin's Krusade Joins Clery Center as a Dating Violence Prevention Initiative
written by Bill Mitchell, Clery Center Board of Directors, former Kristin Mitchell Foundation president
Many nonprofit foundations are created to honor a person who tragically died due to an unexpected, often tragic, circumstance. These nonprofits might also wish to prevent others from losing their lives in a similar manner. For us, that person being honored is my daughter.
In June 2005, twenty days after her college graduation from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Kristin was brutally attacked and murdered in her apartment while breaking up with her ex-boyfriend. That evening, after receiving word from police, we felt we would one day take her tragedy and make something positive out of it. We said, “This will become a responsibility and an opportunity.”
Before this horrible tragedy, Kristin’s family and friends had little awareness or understanding about dating violence or domestic violence beyond stereotypical, inaccurate perceptions. All of that soon changed.
Since its creation in 2007, the mission of the Kristin Mitchell Foundation (KMF) has been “to end the devastating effects of dating abuse by raising awareness about warnings signs and preventive actions.” KMF focused its energies on reaching young adults through awareness and educational presentations at high schools, colleges, domestic violence agency events and community gatherings. We also gained attention through television, radio and podcast interviews. KMF explained what happened with Kristin but also detailed dating violence warning signs and safe methods for ending unhealthy relationships.
Our foundation gained dating violence awareness through events like the Kristin’s Krusade 5K Run/Walks we held at Saint Joseph’s University. We also awarded the Kristin Mitchell ’05 Scholarship to deserving students who demonstrated active involvement in Service Learning activities at Saint Joe’s–specifically in the domestic violence or dating violence areas. In addition, the foundation awarded grants to agencies in Pennsylvania and Maryland who worked to educate about dating violence. Each organization helped to fulfill our mission in hands-on ways.
KMF’s aim was to make the lives of young adults safer. The responses we collected from those who received our message assured us we were doing that. We also heard several young women tell us our message most likely saved their lives. We were pleased with what we had accomplished but questioned if there could be a way to share our knowledge and passion with audiences nationally. Around that time, Clery Center asked if we would entertain a sharing of our mission with theirs. Clery Center had been committed to campus safety for thirty years and the connections between our two missions were remarkably similar. We said yes!
A month ago, the Kristin Mitchell Foundation was discontinued but our spirit and passion will grow with Clery Center. We are now a Clery Center initiative specifically focused on dating violence. We are called Kristin’s Krusade–just like our 5k run/walk’s name, but we are much more than that. The dating violence cause will benefit greatly from Clery’s ability to touch young adults in high schools and colleges on a countrywide basis. Our mission is reborn and the possibilities are boundless.
In life, Kristin was a person who gave generously to friends and family. She volunteered freely for service learning projects and youth groups, and she wanted to make this world a better place. Today, you could say she is still doing that. Kristin’s trademark was her smile. She loved life and we all would have benefited had she lived beyond her precious twenty-one years.
Kristin’s mother and I feel strongly Kristin would be alive and prospering today had she gained knowledge about dating violence. Her tragedy didn’t need to happen, but we are making the most of it through the new Kristin’s Krusade, a powerful initiative by Clery Center. We are certain Kristin is quite pleased with our transformation.
Additional resources: Watch Clery Center's video on FAQs on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking
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April 10, 2018
Celebrating 30 years: Clery Center Gala
Clery Center’s 30th anniversary gala took place on April 7, 2018 at Merion Cricket Club in the Greater Philadelphia area. Alison Kiss, Executive Director of Clery Center, wrote a recap of the event.
Clery Center’s gala was a landmark event that celebrated the organization’s 30th anniversary. We brought together friends, supporters, higher education professionals, and students to reflect on three decades of organizational evolution and progress since our founding in 1987. Attendees included Addie Mix, whose son was murdered during his freshman year, and Anne Seymour, national crime victim advocate who has worked with the Clery family since Jeanne’s murder. Addie and Anne were honored with the Jeanne Clery Award for campus safety to recognize their dedication to changing campus culture. We also shared our accomplishments through the Center’s initiatives (fire safety, hazing, OVW grant program) and training/membership programs. (To read more about our activities this year, see our 2017 Annual Report.)
The evening included remarks from Baylor head football coach, Matt Rhule. Matt spoke about stepping into an environment recently in the spotlight because of reported sexual assaults by football players. Matt has worked with Clery Center, Green Dot, and Men Can Stop Rape to develop programming for his players and is often heard saying, “…sexual assault is not a Baylor thing. This is an ‘our world’ issue.” During his tenure, Coach Rhule has epitomized transparency and openly listens to and responds to criticism. Our keynote speaker, Sara Ganim, CNN correspondent, spoke about her Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting that broke the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State University. Sara used the platform to challenge the audience to continue to seek truth, as we see more injuries related to campus violence such as hazing. She praised the Clery Act as a tool for seeking the truth.
I spoke about some incredible people who have given so much of their expertise to steer the organization in a direction that best serves our mission: working together with colleges and universities for safer campuses. I referenced the passion of students in the last five years to challenge us all to support safer campus environments. It was only fitting that I traveled to Lehigh University, with board member and alumnus, Andy Cagnetta, on April 5. Andy was a friend of Jeanne and they frequently spent time at his fraternity house, Phi Sigma Kappa. This past Thursday, on the anniversary of Jeanne’s murder, the men at Phi Sig organized a “Blue Light Ball” to shine a light on campus sexual violence and raise money for Clery Center programs. These young men brought tears to Connie Clery’s eyes as I shared the details of the event with her. In fact, it is what she always strived for: remembrance of Jeanne and commitment of future generations to courageously lead us to a culture of dignity and respect.
 
We will continue to build on 30 years of success with the support of our friends and the higher education community. This work is not easy but the camaraderie and optimism at the gala provides us with a renewed commitment to Clery Center and energy for this next year. It was incredibly humbling to speak with the Gala attendees about their experiences and the impact that Clery Center, Jeanne, or someone on our team or board has had on them. There is so much that we can accomplish together. Thank you again for your passion and dedication to Clery Center. I look forward to continuing to steward the organization’s mission, with your partnership, in the months ahead.
Warmest Regards,
Alison Kiss | Executive Director
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Evaluate campus safety inclusivity during Pride Month
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. Originally designed to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in Manhattan—a tipping point in the Gay Liberation Movement—this month often contains a series of celebrations, educational initiatives, and events designed to bring awareness to the impact the entire LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) community has had on the world.
While it is wonderful to set aside time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, ideally inclusiveness, education, and awareness should happen year-round and be intertwined into all of the work and systems that make up a campus community—not just during one month. This means implementing ongoing training for staff and students, integrating inclusive practices into policies and procedures, and fostering a culture of acceptance and support every day. June serves as a timely reminder to review and update campus policies to ensure they are truly inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community.
When it comes to achieving truly comprehensive and inclusive campus safety services, it is often all about the small things. Routine processes, like replacing a lost student ID card or responding to a call for a shuttle ride, are the foundational actions that can make or break a student’s trust in campus safety systems intended to support them. Similarly, enacting seemingly minor elements within the Clery Act can have a pronounced ripple effect; ensure that all students feel as though campus safety services are accessible and supportive.
We encourage you to use Clery Act requirements to inform how you build inclusive safety structures on campus. Revisit each of these areas to ensure that they are meeting the needs of all students. For example:
- Clery Act campus security authorities (CSAs), the individuals required to report under the Clery Act, include all “officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities.” The Clery Act intentionally includes a wide range of campus professionals because students and employees are likely to disclose crimes to individuals they trust. Individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community on campus may be more likely to report to offices with resources for people of all sexualities and gender identities, so it’s important to make sure CSAs are prepared to connect them with the information they need. Just as with all CSAs, ensure that those offices/departments/roles dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community are equipped with the appropriate support and training to serve in that capacity. It is crucial that CSA training (and campus education in general) be inclusive of the identities represented in your community through the case studies or examples used to explain and process concepts.
- Institutions report statistics for various types of crime, including hate crimes: offenses that manifest evidence that the victim was selected because of the perpetrator’s bias. Bias categories include race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, national origin, disability, and gender identity. This critical distinction in federal law helps institutions provide a more accurate representation of how hate crimes, including those targeting the LGBTQIA+ community, impact the campus. Since not every CSA may know when an incident is a hate crime, consider whether your CSA training encourages them to share as many details as possible in their reports so that those who classify crimes on your campus can identify and effectively respond to hate crimes.
- Clery Act prevention requirements for dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) require programming to be culturally relevant and inclusive of diverse communities and identities. Have you asked for feedback from your community? Do your programs resonate with your students and employees? Summer is a great time to research new programs, plan a fall focus group with students and employees, or consider how you might engage students in program and event planning.
- As required by Clery, institutional policies for DVSAS, as well as a written explanation of these policies given to individuals when they report, provide various resources and options. These documents include information like how to preserve evidence, reporting options, disciplinary procedures, and how the institution maintains the individual’s confidentiality in publicly available information. Can individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community on your campus “see” themselves in the examples used in your policy definitions? In the on- and off-campus resources offered? Does the policy use binary (he/she) or more inclusive language? Your policies are often the door through which a person might choose to connect with resources and options on campus. Is that door open to certain individuals on your campus but metaphorically closed to others?
Additional Resources:
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