Colleges and universities in Northwest Indiana reported one hate crime and eight rapes last year, reports show.
Area schools released their annual safety reports in compliance with the Clery Act, which outlined criminal offenses on and off campus, including, rape, fondling, incest, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson.
The reports also included offenses of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, as part of the Violence Against Women Act, as well as drug, liquor and weapon violations.
None of the colleges or universities recorded a murder or negligent manslaughter case in 2017.
Calumet College of St. Joseph reported zeros for all of the criminal offenses last year, but the school had one report of stalking on campus, according to a report.
Valparaiso University recorded eight rapes in 2017, a report shows. Six of those occurred on campus in residential facilities, according to a report. There were three rapes reported in 2016 and two in 2015, the report shows.
“Our numbers, they fluctuate every year. They change every year. We’re really proactive on this campus with this topic,” Valparaiso Police Chief Becky Walkowiak said.
Walkowiak and Assistant Chief Charles Garber said they think the slight increase in 2017 is partly due to sexual assaults being reported more.
“I think the whole country is doing a better job educating people, to bring awareness,” Garber said. “I think now when victims talk to people, in general, they say hey, report it.”
As this awareness grows, numbers may increase, but, hopefully, those will decrease one day, Garber said.
Valparaiso University had one fondling, one burglary, four dating violence and eight stalking cases in 2017, according to the report.
The university also reported 166 liquor law violations, 26 drug abuse violations and one weapon violation, the report shows.
Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus recorded the only hate crime last year among the campuses in the area. In April 2017, a student received a threatening racist text message, Brian Miller, PNW director of public safety, said.
The Westville campus also reported two burglaries, one weapons law violation and one drug law violation, a report shows.
Purdue University Northwest’s Hammond campus recorded one robbery, two aggravated assaults, six burglaries and two motor vehicle thefts, according to a report. The campus had one weapons violation, 50 drug law violations and 67 liquor law violations, Miller said.
PNW’s Hammond campus also had one dating violence, one domestic violence and three stalking cases, according to the report.
Indiana University Northwest reported one fondling, three aggravated assaults and two motor vehicle thefts in 2017, a report shows. IUN also had one case of dating violence, two weapon violations and seven drug violations, according to the report.