Earlier this month, University Police released its annual security report displaying information and statistics from 2018.
“This has been a safe campus and continues to be a very safe campus,” said Police Chief Steven Siena.
According to the report, there were forty-nine drug-law violations including nineteen liquor-law violations, three cases of rape (as opposed to none two years ago), and two cases of aggravated assault (up from zero in 2017). However, no fires were reported this past year compared to three in 2017, drug-related arrests went down from eleven in 2017 to five last year, and the number of burglaries decreased from five to two. When it came to the future of the campus about safety, Siena was optimistic.
“The dedicated members of the University Police Department will continue to work diligently to keep Old Westbury among the safest colleges in the SUNY system, and I expect the next annual
security report to reflect [the] same.”
However, he stressed the importance of obeying laws related to drugs and alcohol on campus, stating, “I would ask our residential students to be more mindful that regardless of age, alcoholic beverages are not permitted on campus.”
Siena reminds students, “Regardless of what might be the case in other states, marijuana continues to be unlawful in the State of New York and is not permitted on campus.”
While some safety concerns that need to be addressed, particularly the issue of having drugs and alcohol on campus, SUNY Old Westbury is still a safe place, according to Siena. Additionally, the report stresses a zero-tolerance policy against weapons on campus, as it states, “Violators are subject to college discipline as well as criminal sanctions.”
Students are also urged to keep their “valuables” safe and secure, be aware at all times of their surroundings, and also to report any suspicious or criminal activity they may witness. Siena takes his role very seriously in maintaining safety on campus.
“Every action that we take is with an eye toward preventing crime or solving crime, and to create and maintain an environment that protects and enhances the safety and security of our community,” said Siena.
For any emergencies, the officers at the University Police Department strongly urges students to dial 516-8763333 or extension 3333, or 516-628-5555. For any concerns related to the physical safety of campus buildings and grounds, students are advised to call the Physical Plant office, which is open Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, and to call the University Police for anything that occurs during the office’s non-business hours.
