The Daily Collegian Report: By Casey McDermott COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER After a small jump in on-cam pus crime in 2008, Penn State's University Park campus saw a small decrease in its total offenses for 2009, according to a report released this week. In Penn State's annual •‘Policies, Safety and U" report, statistics show that on-campus crime levels have fluctuated over the past three years. According to the report, total offenses rose from 2,055 in 2007 to 2,268 in 2008, then tapered off to 2,252 in 2009. And most of those on-campus crimes can be traced back to alco hol, Chief of Police Stephen Shelow said. Offenses such as underage drinking, public drunkenness and DUIs lead most crime categories, he said. Marijuana use and pos session is also an issue, he said. In light of alcohol s •■overwhelm ing” influence on university-relat- Sestak welcomes youth involvement in campaign By Anita Modi COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER While most students spent Saturday afternoon raising money for the Interfraternitv Council; Panhellenic Dance Marathon or watching the Penn State-Minnesota game, a group of 20 students attended the rally for Congressman Joe Sestak outside Old Main. As a part of his campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Sestak stopped in State College to address issues such as job securi ty and education and encourage an audience of students, faculty and locals alike to vote on Nov 2. Though the rally officially began at 3 p.m.. participants began to gather before the steps of Old Main half an hour earlier, drawn by campaign-themed musical per formances and patriotic songs. Four students representing the Juniata College Democrats drove 45 minutes from their campus in Huntingdon. Pa., to University Park to support Sestak at the rally. 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NOW LEASING for next year Call as for moke info 814.231.9000 VVV.MEKIOIANCOLLEQEAVENUE.COM On-campus crime decreases slightly “The University Park campus and the Centre Region continue to be one of the safest places to live, work and study.” ed crime, Penn State President Graham Spanier wrote in an e mail that the university is continu ing to step up its safety education, prevention, enforcement and cooperation between the State College Police Department, University Police and the Office of Judicial Affairs. "The overwhelming factor in most university-related crime is the presence of excessive amounts of alcohol,” Spanier wrote. "So this is a very important focus of our interventions.” But Shelow said it’s not just alcohol that’s an issue. Other crimes, like theft one of the highest-reported crimes on cam- indifferent toward politics. "There’s a lot of apathy both at our college and across the state," said Zach Gordon, a senior major ing in politics at Juniata College and president of the Juniata College Democrats. “We have to be very aggressive when encour aging people to fill out voter regis tration forms.” Yet Sestak found himself up against more than just apathy at the rally. He was met with a dozen stu dent representatives of Pat Toomey s campaign silently hold ing signs and passing out brochures in favor of his opponent throughout his speech. Sestak seemed unfazed by the Toomey supporters, liowever, as he spoke about the potential of .America's youth. He said he met a freshman in Penn State's ROTC program upon arriving to Penn State and expressed his admiration at the dedication of students supporting their nation. The congressman said the aver age employee working at his head- LOCAL Steve Shelow Penn State chief of police pus continue to create prob lems for police. In 2009, there were 439 cases of non-motor-vehicle theft on cam pus, according to the report. Most of those cases, however, involve unsecured or unattended property, Shelow said. The most commonly stolen items include bicycles, textbooks, cell phones, backpacks, gym bags, computers and electronic accessories like cellular phones and iPods, he said. Overall, Shelow said crimes such as forcible rape, homicide, robbery and serious assaults are consistently low over the years. According to the report, there quarters is between 21 and 22 years old. “I love the youth." he said. "I would take a youth willing to bang that door open to get what they want over anyone, and I mean that sincerely." As a member of the education committee in the House of Representatives in Washington, DC., Sestak said he understands the need for improving education nationwide to make America a competitive global power. He said he especially appreciates students giving their time to attend the rally and asked them to take the time to vote on Nov. 2. A volunteer for the Sestak cam paign, Alex Lukasiewicz spends her time reminding fellow stu dents to register to vote and show up to the polls on voting day. Lukasiewicz (sophomore-ecolo gy), who attended Saturday's rally, said she knew the congressman had supported student loan reforms in the past and shared many of her values. To e-mail reporter: arms373@psu.edu TTi iop " 1 IUiIC "■ • *l *g * J Diamond Sale- % m Diamond Engagement Rings, Stud Earrings, Diamond Pendants - ALL DIAMOND JEWELRY IS MARKED DOWN FOR THIS SAL£! I . Downtown State College 234.4481 I# | |l||l J || M Next To The Tavern Restaurant ■ ■I MW Nittany Mall 234.0637 JEWELERS CT h e Daily ollegian Campus crime statistics released On-campus crime declined slightly in 2009, but police said alcohol offenses and theft continue to create problems. Year I rl° ta ' I L rr I L , iqUOr I Drunkenness Offenses Theft Laws 2007 2055 460 487 111 2008 2268 413 571 150 2009 2252 439 548 157 Source: “Policies. Safe:, and U" Report 2009 was a slight rise in aggravated But overall, Shelow said Penn assault offenses on campus last State and its surrounding area year: 23 total in 2009. compared to remains generally secure, nine in 2008 and four in 2007. "The University Park campus Non-aggravated assault and the Centre Region continue to declined last year, hitting 31 be one of the safest places to live, offenses in 2009, after a spike to 51 work and study," he said, in 2008 from 21 the year before, according to the report r )in Ruane Coileysan Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak speaks at a rally at Old Main Saturday afternoon to drum up support before the midterm elections. * / kranichs.com Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 I Kimberly Bartner/Collegian To e-mail reporter: cmms773@psu.edu . i- /4-t-r ; f 4 • v , -‘tec :' : > - v-- ; i ;..-s' - ' r A fm pennState areer w Services CAREER PI ANN IN G fOR LIFE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers