WSU Police | Photo by Caitlin Shatsby | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University (WSU) sees overall greater incidents of assault and comparable numbers of other offenses to other Ohio public universities.
60-day WSU crimes
WSU began its semester Aug. 23 and since then, 36 crimes have been reported, including fire-related incidents.
According to WSU’s 60-day campus crime log, from Aug. 28 to Oct. 27, seven assaults occurred, along with 10 thefts, two rapes, three-drug incidents, one liquor offense, five trespassing occurrences and four miscellaneous criminal incidents.
WSU has also seen four fire-related incidents this semester, including an active Student Union fire.
In the past two weeks, Oct. 13 to Oct. 27, the Wright State Police Department reported, via the Clery Act, two incidents of voyeurism in Rike Hall’s bathrooms and two incidents of car part thefts occurring in Lot 4.
WSU Crime Statistics
These numbers reflect WSU crime statistics from previous years.
All crimes occurring on campus are reported in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, in the year 2020, similar incidents occurred despite decreased numbers of students on campus.
In 2020, seven rapes occurred as well as one aggravated assault, four burglaries, eight drug law violations that ended in arrest and eight alcohol law violations that ended in disciplinary actions.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the move to online classes, WSU saw a decrease in students residing and visiting campus.
The Wright State Guardian reached out to the Director of Housing, Dan Berstos and the WSU communications department regarding the exact residential numbers for 2020 and have yet to receive a response.
60-day BGSU crimes
WSU’s semesterly crime numbers are similar compared to other mid-sized four-year public institutions like Bowling Green State University (BGSU). However, WSU’s yearly numbers are still higher in some offenses.
According to BGSU’s 60-day crime log from Aug. 26 to Oct. 26, 15 thefts were reported, two rapes occurred, 12 drug incidents happened with five alcohol violations.
No assaults, trespassing, or active fires were reported in the BGSU crime log during this time frame.
BGSU crime statistics
Bowling Green also publishes its yearly crime statistics. Compared to WSU in the year 2020, BGSU had fewer sexual offense rapes but higher burglary, alcohol and drug-related incidents.
In 2020, BGSU experienced a total of 233 alcohol violations, 36 of which ended in arrest.
Kent State
Kent State University (KSU), another Ohio four-year public institution, has higher 60-day crime numbers than BGSU and WSU.
According to Kent State’s 60-day crime log and fire log for Aug. 28 to Oct. 27, 2021, 167 crimes occurred with zero active fires.
Of the 167 crimes, KSU saw the highest numbers in theft, drug offenses and alcohol offenses. Only one assault was reported in this time frame on Kent’s campus.
Of the two schools BGSU and WSU, Kent also has the largest population with 21,431 students.
WSU response
Wright State’s Police Department expressed that while incidents occur, WSU still values safety on campus.
“I want to first emphasize that we are a safe campus, but as people begin to attend get-togethers and hangouts, there are those few occasions where good judgment is not always used,” Lt. Kurt Holden, Director of Public Safety, said.
Holden also mentioned resources students can use to prevent crime and to use after they have been a victim of a crime including Counseling and Wellness Services.
