A female was assaulted last Thursday about 11:30 p.m. near Pile Hall, where a male with a skateboard grabbed the victim and pushed her against the exterior of the building. She struggled and was able to escape safely.

The suspect was described as a white male, about 6’4”, medium-weight, with dark brown hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

The assault occurred near the end of a semester—and recent period—when criminal activity here has decreased.

Crime on campus at WSC is way down, and Ron Reddic, campus security manager, wants to keep it that way.

Plans are in motion for the fall in order to keep the number of incidences down and student safety up.

WSC’s most recently published crime statistics–from 2010 through 2012–show a significant decrease in crime activity compared to previous years.

For example, the number of alcohol violations has dropped from almost 90 in 2005 to fewer than 10 in 2012.

“The change of security attitude and presence along with the collectiveness of residence life in regards to keeping everyone save is the reason for the reduction,” Reddic said.

In 1990, the U.S. Congress enacted The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, better known as The Clery Act.

This act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses.

The law is named for Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered in her campus residence hall in 1986. The backlash against unreported crimes on numerous campuses across the country led to this act.

This provides students, parents and community members the right to information about the overall safety of their own campus.

“We submit a report by Oct. 1 of each year,” Reddic said.

Institutions also must publish and distribute their Annual Campus Security Report to current and prospective students and employees. This report is required to provide crime statistics for the prior three years.

“Our goal is to do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week professional staff coverage here at the campus,” Reddic said.

Campus security will also be talking during next fall’s freshmen orientation and the RA training sessions about the importance of safety and plans to increase staffing in all the residence halls.

One of their goals for next year is to give out more education on alcohol and drug abuse.

Reddic also plans to get the Wayne police department more involved to help educate students by possibly showing videos of what happens if you drink and drive.

“It’s not meant to be a scare tactic,” Reddic said. “This is an institution of higher learning so we should be learning something.

“If you learn what the consequences are and you still decide to do it, then shame on you.”