Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of sexual assault. Resources to report sexual assault are listed at the bottom of the article.
OU released its annual Annual Security & Fire Safety Report Tuesday, including decreases in rapes, stalking and aggravated assault and increases in burglary.
Instances of rape, fondling and aggravated assault all decreased on the Norman campus from 2022 to 2023.
There were four reported rapes in 2023 on on-campus property, a decrease from 14 in 2022 and 18 in 2021. In on-campus housing, there were three reported rapes in 2023, a decrease of 10 from 2022. The report notes there were two instances of fondling in 2023, a decrease from 11 in 2022 and eight in 2021. There were no reported instances of aggravated assault at on-campus housing or property in 2023.
Dating violence and stalking also decreased in 2023 on the Norman campus. The report includes one instance of dating violence in 2023, 10 in 2022 and seven in 2021, as well as six stalking incidents in 2023, 12 in 2022 and six in 2021.
The report also notes burglary, domestic violence, disciplinary referrals for drug law violations and motor vehicle theft increased on campus in 2023. There were 10 reported burglaries and four domestic violence incidents listed in 2023. Motor vehicle theft increased from 10 in 2021 to 28 in 2023.
In 2023, there were 28 disciplinary referrals for drug law violations, an increase from 14 in 2022. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations decreased from 154 in 2022 to 100 in 2023.
Reports of fire increased in 2023, according to the report. Two fires were reported in 2023, one was reported in 2022 and none were reported in 2021. Since July 2021, the SafeRide program, which provides safe and free late-night transportation to OU students, has provided 3,872 rides for 9,544 passengers, according to the report. The report adds there have been 78 Safewalk calls since August 2021.
According to the report, student alcohol charges deemed responsible decreased from 168 in 2022 to 97 in 2023. Student drug charges deemed responsible stayed at 17 in 2022 and 2023. No faculty or staff drug violations were reported in 2022 or 2023.
The report recommends continuing and expanding sexual health, drug abuse and alcohol education programs across OU’s campuses. It also suggests developing assessment strategies for the Tulsa campus and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
The Clery Compliance coordinator prepares the report each year with campus and local law enforcement, Student Affairs, the Institutional Equity and Title IX Office and the Office of Legal Counsel. After preparation, it is emailed to all OU students and employees. Free physical copies are available at the Student Affairs Office.
The Clery Act requires all publicly financed universities and colleges to disclose their crime data, and outline safety policies and procedures.
“The University is committed to taking the actions necessary to provide a safe and secure working/learning environment for all students and staff,” the report reads. “As a member of the campus community, you can feel safe and comfortable knowing that security procedures are in place that represent best practices in the field and are constantly tested and re-evaluated for their effectiveness.”
Resources
OU’s Institutional Equity Office website provides information for reporting sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment. Reports can be sent through the online reporting firm, or by calling the Institutional Equity Office at 405-325-2215 or 405-325-3546 for Norman, 405-271-2110 for the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and 918-660-3107 for OU’s Tulsa campus.
Students, faculty and residents can also call OU Report It!, a 24-hour reporting hotline, at 844-428-6531. OU Report It! takes anonymous reports of discrimination, physical or mental harassment or misconduct by OU community members.
OU Advocates is a confidential, free resource that provides 24-hour support services for students, faculty and staff members experiencing sexual assault, dating and/or domestic violence, stalking and/or sexual harassment.
The University of Oklahoma Police Department can also be reached at 405-325-1717 or 405-325-1911 for non-emergency reports.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Peggy Dodd. Riley McDaniel and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
