The recent surge in crime at the University of Pennsylvania has focused national attention on the issue of security at college campuses -- and has served as a marked contrast to the relative safety of the College and the surrounding Hanover area.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 24 Penn students and employees were robbed last September, twice the number of reported robberies as September, 1995. One student victim was shot and wounded as he tried to flee a holdup.
In addition, University of Pennsylvania police reported 18 robberies of people not affiliated with the university during the months September and October of 1996.
Dartmouth, on the other hand, has had minimal incidence of crime as opposed to its Ivy League counterpart.
According to last year's security report, Safety and Security received a report of one robbery during the entire year.
Furthermore, the numbers of sexual offenses, motor vehicle thefts and burglaries are all down from two years ago, probably making Hanover one of the safest college towns in the nation.
However, Safety and Security Sergeant Rebel Roberts said statistics and figures can often be misleading.
"One really needs to look at the college's location, the number of reported crimes and crimes not reported and look at the campus' enforcement style," she said.
Even so, Hanover Police Chief Nick Giaccone boasted, "I walk around Hanover at night and I have no concern for my safety."
Most students agreed with Giaccone's assessment of Hanover as a safe town.
"I am really impressed by ... security," Caroline Hribar '00 said. "Although I did not come to Dartmouth College specifically because it was so safe, it is a nice bonus."
There may be some, though, who are taking their safety for granted.
Roberts said one of the major problems is "getting the students to lock their doors ... They do not realize how important that is."
Giaccone agreed. "I think it is ludicrous to have students sleep without their doors locked," he said.
Although statistics on crimes have not been tabulated for last term, Giaccone said there is no reason to believe the College has seen a rise in crime.
However, a trend of surging liquor law and drug abuse violations from last year continues to cause problems for the Hanover Police.
According to last year's Hanover Police crime report, the number of liquor law violations doubled from the previous year, while the number of drug abuse violations increased threefold.
