CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM Students walk down East-West Center Road on their first day of classes at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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Drug and liquor violations at dorms and other campus residences at the University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus soared last year, while campus-related burglaries and aggravated assaults also rose.
The number of liquor violations at dorms and other campus housing jumped to 719 last year from 524 in 2010, according to an annual safety report released Thursday.
Drug-related violations at dorms and other campus housing also shot up — to 390 last year from 238 in 2010.
During the same period, there were 12 forcible sex offenses on campus, including six in dorms or other campus housing. The number of forcible sex offenses remained the same as 2010, when most — 10 — occurred in campus housing.
"There is drinking and drug use," said Emily Murai, a 19-year-old sophomore from Wailuku who lives in a dorm. "It can contribute to attacks if people are consuming alcohol or on drugs. They’re going to be more prone (to commit a crime) and more vulnerable. It definitely contributes to why people are getting attacked."
Murai said she always walks in a group whenever she needs to cross campus at night.
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"When we get alerts about students getting attacked or assaulted, it’s at really late hours and not-so-lighted areas," Murai said.
Since the start of the school year in August, UH-Manoa students have received campuswide alerts about:
» An alleged sex assault Sept. 29 in a campus housing complex by a "nonstudent perpetrator" (issued Thursday).
» Reports of "several" thefts at Sinclair Library and Moore Hall (issued Wednesday).
» Four computers reported missing from Dean Hall (reported Wednesday).
» A sex assault Sept. 22 involving "more than one perpetrator" (issued Sept. 26).
"All of the alerts are scary to see," said Richard Mizusawa, 20, president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii. "It feels that almost every week something is happening."
Last semester the student government conducted a student survey that found concern about campus crime.
The survey led student senators last month to pass a nonbinding resolution asking campus security officials to increase lightning, surveillance cameras and human patrols around campus — especially around dorms.
"The safety of both undergrad and grad students on campus and off campus is something we really want to look into," Mizusawa said.
While student leaders want increased patrols and equipment, Mizusawa agreed that students need to be better educated about campus escorts and other anti-crime services — and about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.
"We need to encourage and educate students on the consequences of what can negatively impact them when drugs and alcohol are involved," he said. "There is a connection."
The report issued Thursday also showed that burglaries on campus increased to 64 last year from 48 in 2010.
But the number of on-campus vehicle thefts dropped at the same time — to 16 last year from 39 in 2010.
CRIME AT UH-MANOA
2011
2010
>> Forcible on-campus sex offenses
12
12
>> On-campus aggravated assaults
16
11
(in dorms/other residential facilities)
10
0
>> On-campus burglaries
64
48
>> On-campus motor vehicle thefts
16
39
>> Liquor law violations in dorms
or other campuses residences
719
524
>> Drug-related violations in dorms
or other campuses residences
390
238
Source: University of Hawaii 2012 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report