Stalking cases on campus have increased from 2020 to 2021, while drug law violations have decreased over the past three years, according to the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

The University released the report to the public on Sept. 26, as required by the Clery Act, the Michael Minger Act and the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act.

The report includes statistics for campus crimes during the previous three calendar years, excluding 2022. It also covers certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University, as well as public property in close proximity to campus.

Incidents of stalking jumped from four in 2020 to 10 in 2021, including four at residential facilities. Seven rapes were reported in 2021, including five at residential colleges.

The report covers sexual offenses related to rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape. It does not include the 2021 indecent exposure incident outside New Fine Arts, when a man was seen fondling himself outside of a classroom window and was later apprehended. However, all crimes are listed on the Crime Log.

Arrests related to drug law violations have decreased significantly over the past three years, with 43 in 2019, 20 in 2020 and eight in 2021. While arrests related to liquor law violations have remained steady, disciplinary referrals related to liquor law violations have increased from seven in 2020 to 17 in 2021.

Crime and fire statistics were released for the campuses at Murray, Fort Campbell, Henderson, Madisonville, Hopkinsville and Paducah, as well as the Hancock Biological Station at Kentucky Lake and the Breathitt Veterinary Center on the Hopkinsville campus. 

With the exception of one fondling and one drug law arrest made on public property near the Madisonville campus in 2019, crime and fire incidents have only occurred at the main Murray campus during the past three years.

After stove fires in Clark College, White College and College Courts in 2019 and two kitchen fires in College Courts in 2020, no fires occurred in residential colleges in 2021.

The report includes descriptions of each residential facility’s safety system and the number of fire drills held at each facility in 2021.

The report also provides reminders about institutional policies concerning campus security and information about fire safety systems, among other resources.

Throughout each year, the Murray State Police Department conducts crime prevention and community relations programs, including active shooter and workplace violence training, alcohol awareness education and orientation sessions for new students, faculty and staff.

One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she regards campus as generally safe.

“I feel like Murray State is a safe campus for a variety of reasons,” she said. “It’s pretty well-lit, and the campus police are really great. I feel like if something did happen, then they would actually help… I mean, I’ve never really felt threatened by anyone.”

The student feels safety measures in the residential halls could be improved.

“I think that there should be cameras in public areas, like study spaces and kitchens and stuff, in the residence halls,” she said. “Especially in places like the laundry room or something, where some of those areas are kind of small and often shared by both genders.”

Another anonymous student, who commutes to campus, said parking lots and walkways are very open so she can see around at all times.

“I think having more accessibility to the emergency call buttons would be helpful,” she said.

Sophomore elementary education major Danielle Poole said she feels very safe on campus.

“I am aware of where all the emergency call buttons are,” she said. “I honestly can’t think of any improvements that could be made. I have never experienced any situations where I’ve felt unsafe on campus.”

In addition to the annual report, the University keeps a daily Crime and Fire Log accessible to the public as required by law. Incidents that occurred in 2022 may be found at murraystate.edu/publicsafety/crimelog/.

The annual report can be accessed digitally at murraystate.edu/about/Offices/police/media/Annual_Security_Report.pdf.

A printed copy may also be obtained by contacting the Murray State Police Department at 270-809-2222 or in person at 1511 Chestnut St.