Crime Blotter; Nonaggravated assault, criminal sexual conduct and intimidation/stalking – The State News

Campus Safety Report and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Institutional Accountability and Public Safety

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, Michigan State University (MSU) publicly discloses reported criminal offenses to ensure transparency and institutional accountability, a core principle of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). This report analyzes incidents logged over a seven-day period, highlighting their implications for several key SDGs. It is noted that mandatory reports, which can be submitted by university employees, do not always result in a formal police investigation unless pursued by the victim, a procedure that balances institutional responsibility with survivor autonomy.

Relevance to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The reported offenses directly impact the university community’s progress toward several SDGs:

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Each reported crime, from assault to obstruction of justice, represents a challenge to creating a peaceful and inclusive campus. The university’s reporting mechanism is a crucial component of building an effective and accountable institution.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Incidents of criminal sexual conduct, intimidation, and stalking are significant barriers to gender equality, directly contravening the goal of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Acts of violence, including assault and robbery, pose a direct threat to the physical and mental well-being of community members.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The prevalence of crime, including theft and burglary, undermines efforts to create a safe, inclusive, and sustainable campus community for all residents.

Weekly Crime Log Analysis

1. Tuesday, October 21

   • Forgery/Counterfeiting (Reported at Rather Hall)

2. Wednesday, October 22

   • Non-Aggravated Assault (Occurred at Phillips Hall)
   • Motor Vehicle Theft (Occurred at Holmes Hall)
   • Larceny (Two counts reported at 1855 Place)
   • Stalking (Mandatory report from an incident at Shaw Hall, impacting SDG 5 and SDG 3)

3. Thursday, October 23

   • Larceny (Theft of motor vehicle parts/accessories at Lot 83)

4. Friday, October 24

   • Miscellaneous Criminal Offenses (Two counts involving drone usage)
   • Criminal Sexual Conduct – 3rd Degree (Reported at 1855 Place, a direct violation of SDG 5)

5. Saturday, October 25

   • Burglary (Occurred at Spartan Village)
   • Obstructing Justice (Two counts reported)
   • Criminal Sexual Conduct – 1st Degree (Occurred at Mayo Hall, a severe contravention of SDG 5)
   • Non-Aggravated Assault (Four cases reported across campus, undermining SDG 3 and SDG 16)
   • Miscellaneous Criminal Offense (Public urination at The STEM Building)
   • Robbery and Aggravated/Felonious Assault (Occurred at Spartan Stadium)
   • Weapons Possession (Prohibited possession reported at Lot 61)
   • Suspicious Fires (Occurred at Lot 9)

6. Sunday, October 26

   • Extortion (Reported at West Holden Hall)
   • Intimidation/Stalking (Occurred at the Bio Engineering Building, impacting SDG 5 and SDG 3)

7. Monday, October 27

   • Motor Vehicle Theft (Occurred at McLane Baseball Stadium)
   • Intimidation/Stalking (Occurred at the MSU Pavilion, impacting SDG 5 and SDG 3)

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which details a series of criminal incidents at Michigan State University (MSU), directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on safety, justice, gender equality, and well-being within communities, including educational institutions.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. The goal aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies… provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.” The article’s content, a list of crimes such as “non-aggravated assault,” “robbery,” “burglary,” and “extortion,” directly highlights the challenges to peace and safety within the university community. The mention of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and the public disclosure of the crime log also relates to institutional accountability and access to information.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This goal aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” The article specifically reports on crimes that disproportionately affect women, such as “criminal sexual conduct” and “intimidation/stalking.” Addressing these forms of violence is a key component of achieving gender equality and ensuring women’s safety in both public and private spaces, including university campuses.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This goal seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” A fundamental prerequisite for quality education is a safe learning environment. The prevalence of violent crimes, theft, and harassment on campus, as detailed in the crime blotter, undermines the safety of students and staff, thereby hindering the provision of a quality educational experience.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Experiencing or living in fear of violence, assault, and stalking has severe negative impacts on both the physical and mental health of individuals. The crimes listed, particularly “non-aggravated assault,” “criminal sexual conduct,” and “intimidation/stalking,” are direct threats to the health and well-being of the campus community.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific crimes and institutional responses mentioned, several SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article provides a direct account of various forms of violence occurring within the MSU campus. The reports of “non-aggravated assault,” “aggravated/felonious assault,” “robbery,” and “criminal sexual conduct” are all instances that this target aims to reduce.

2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including… sexual and other types of exploitation.

   The specific reporting of “Criminal Sexual Conduct to the 3rd degree,” “Criminal Sexual Conduct to the 1st degree,” and multiple instances of “intimidation/stalking” directly corresponds to the types of violence against women and girls that this target seeks to eliminate.

3. Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are… gender-sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

   The entire crime blotter serves as evidence that the learning environment at MSU is compromised by violence and crime. The list of offenses, from assault to theft and stalking, demonstrates a failure to fully provide a “safe, non-violent” environment, which is the core objective of this target.

4. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The article mentions the legal framework governing the university’s actions, specifically the “Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act,” which mandates public reporting of crimes. It also notes that “a police report and subsequent investigation may not occur unless the victim or survivor chooses to file a formal report.” This highlights the processes and choices involved in accessing the justice system, which is a key aspect of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article itself functions as a data source, providing information that can be used as indicators to measure progress.

• For Target 16.1 and 5.2:

  The official SDG indicator 16.1.3 (“Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months”) and 5.2.2 (“Proportion of women and girls… subjected to sexual violence”) are directly reflected in the article. The specific counts of crimes reported are raw data points for these indicators. For example, the article lists “four cases of non-aggravated assault,” two reports of “Criminal Sexual Conduct,” and multiple instances of “intimidation/stalking.” Tracking the frequency of these reports over time would serve as a direct measure of progress toward reducing violence.

• For Target 4.a:

  While there isn’t a perfect official SDG indicator, the article’s content strongly implies a practical indicator: the number and type of criminal offenses reported on campus. The “Clery Crime and Fire Log” mentioned in the article is the source for this indicator. A reduction in the number of incidents listed in this log would indicate progress toward creating a safer learning environment.

• For Target 16.3:

  The article implies an indicator related to institutional transparency and access to justice. The existence and public availability of the “Clery Crime and Fire Log” serves as an indicator of institutional accountability and transparency in reporting crime (related to Target 16.6). Furthermore, the number of crimes that are formally reported to law enforcement by victims, as opposed to only being listed as mandatory reports, could serve as a proxy indicator for victims’ trust and access to the formal justice system.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: statenews.com