The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for USC’s Columbia campus was released Sept. 29 and showed an uptick in on-campus rape, burglaries, robbery and other offenses in 2022.
Despite a national decrease in on-campus crimes from 2010 to 2020, USC also saw some increase from 2021 to 2022 in cases of aggravated assault, dating violence and stalking as well as disciplinary referrals for drug law and liquor law violations. The report showed a decrease in other measured areas, such as domestic violence and illegal weapons possession.
The university also said crimes such as non-negligent manslaughter, manslaughter by negligence, incest and statutory rape have all remained at zero cases throughout the past three years.
USCPD Captain Eric Grabski said the increase in on-campus crime can be attributed to the influx of students living on campus following the end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
"We had fewer people on campus. You saw that drop, I think in 2021," Grabski said. "We had few people on campus, so obviously the opportunity for that crime to be committed or the reporting of that crime would be much less."
Elissa Myers, a third-year visual communications student, said she has seen the uptick of on-campus crime around her.
“I’ve noticed a lot more burglaries and a lot more shootings and break-ins for different apartments," Myers said. "I didn’t know there was more rape. That’s really scary. I feel like now I’ll probably think about it more.”
Grabski said that while the report shows a rise in the number of rape cases reported, this increase does not necessarily mean that the crime has become more prevalent.
"Just because there are more reports of rape, doesn't mean there's an increase in that crime. People are feeling more comfortable coming forward and reporting, and that's a good thing. That's a very good thing," Grabski said.
Myers said that the increase is not necessarily reflected in how USCPD relays information about crime to students, however.
“I feel like they do a good job of making us feel protected but probably not informed about different things that are going on and how to stay safe,” Myers said.
First-year graphic design student Kalyn Jones said that, aside from the annual reports, there is a lack of communication about the increase of on-campus crimes such as burglaries and rape.
Jones said that when she does learn about those incidents, it is through her peers.
“I didn’t hear that from any official source. I heard it from a friend telling me about it the other day,” Jones said.
Other students, such as first-year sport and entertainment graduate student Katie Adams, said they have been satisfied with communication about threats on campus.
“I’ve definitely been warned, especially in places like at my apartment complex, to always lock your doors. So that’s definitely a concern, that there is present crime in the area,” Adams said.
While Adams said she stays informed about potential dangers, she doesn't recall witnessing many USCPD officers on campus.
“I haven’t really seen their presence or felt their presence necessarily since I’ve been here," Adams said. "Obviously, there’s the blue emergency light towers, so if there was an issue, there’s hopefully help nearby."
While students voiced concerns about the lack of communication regarding crime on campus, the report says emergency communications through Carolina Alert, emails, texts and social media are used to send out warnings and keep the campus community up to date.
“The University of South Carolina makes timely warnings to the university community regarding certain crimes considered to be a serious or continuing threat to students, faculty, staff, and visitors when reported to the Division of Law Enforcement and Safety (DLES), and such warnings will not compromise an on-going criminal investigation,” the report reads.
The annual report is released by the beginning of October each year. Data from 2023 will be included in next year's report.