The Clery Act is a federal law in the U.S. that requires universities to report crime statistics, including thefts and sexual assaults, to the student population. The report also covers safety policies and procedures for emergencies. Compiled annually, Sonoma State’s 2024 Clery Act report was sent out to the entire campus community through an email on Sept. 13.
One of the biggest takeaways from this year’s report is the statistics on rape. In 2021, the number of rapes that occurred on-campus was 12. In 2022, that number rose to 13. Last year, however, the number notably dropped, with five total rape cases reported. Cases of fondling, however, rose slightly, with two total cases reported in 2021, and four cases reported in both 2022 and 2023.
“It’s unfortunate that girls tend to be targeted and taken advantage of based on how they act and what they wear. Guys usually see that and take what they want,” said Bri Rodrigez, a fourth-year psychology major. “Girls get roofied, and guys use that to get what they want.”
According to RAINN, “Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.” Those numbers only become more staggering when you factor in the fact that only 20 percent of female student victims, aged 18-24, report their assaults to law enforcement.
While there was a decline in reports of rape, the statistics for domestic violence rose. In both 2021 and 2022, there were zero reported domestic violence crimes. In 2023, however, there were five total cases reported.
Another area of the report covered stalking. There were nine separate stalking incidents reported in 2023. That number was significantly lower in previous years, with six cases reported in 2022 and five in 2021.
The statistics on hate crimes remained low, with one reported in 2021, and one reported in 2023. There were zero hate crimes reported in 2022.
One area in which the statistics fell dramatically was in the liquor law violations category. There were nine reports in 2021, and rose to 23 in 2022. In 2023, however, that number dropped to three. No one has been arrested for a liquor law violation since 2021, when one person was arrested.
