The CWRU police department recently issued several security alerts and updates through the university’s mass email system regarding incidents of crime on campus. Almost every time we announce one of these alerts, we get questions about the security alert system and its process.

The reason we issue security alerts is two-fold. Firstly, we do this to keep the campus community informed about criminal and other incidents that occur on and around campus. Secondly, the law requires us to do it.

The law in question is the Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1990, more commonly known as the Clery Act, named after a student who was murdered in her room at a Pennsylvania university in 1986.

This law states that universities must provide a timely warning to students, staff, and faculty when certain types of crimes occur that may present a threat to the campus community. This allows people to take reasonable precautions for their own safety, heightens safety awareness, and helps police gather information that could lead to the apprehension of a suspect.

When a security alert is sent, it is based on the best information available at the time, which is typically information supplied by the victim. The goal is to get the most accurate information out as quickly as possible.

CWRU PD urges all members of the campus community to read these alerts.

If the included information helps you avoid falling victim to crime, it is time well spent, regardless of how busy you may happen to be. We welcome feedback on this or other topics at policecolumn@case.edu.

On a lighter note, On the Beat has covered a wide array of crime prevention and safety topics this past year. Everyone should be fully informed about safety on campus, so there should not be any reason for incidents of any kind until after commencement, starting…now!

The column will return as events dictate, but we will otherwise use this space to publish a police blotter of recent crimes or trends around campus that we think you need to know about. Stay safe and look out for each other!