It has been my privilege to conduct extensive security initiatives over the years for colleges and universities.
These have included:
- Hiring, management, and training of security personnel
- Collaboration with law enforcement
- Development of post orders and emergency plans
- Keynotes for law enforcement, security directors, managers, and supervisors
- Serving as spokesman for families victimized by the Virginia Tech tragedy and the completion of a report on their behalf
- Publication of numerous articles, blogs, and a book
- Police academy presentations for law enforcement seeking crime prevention practitioner certifications
Aside from these security initiatives, I have also been privileged to conduct many programs in character, ethics, and leadership, which in my opinion are inseparable from security at campuses.
Staggering Statistics
A January 2014 White House report titled “Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action” clearly paints the enormity of the crisis on college campuses:
- 1 in 5 women have been sexually assaulted while in college
- Dynamics of college life with the “get high” culture fueling the problem with many victims being drunk, under the influence of drugs, passed out, or otherwise incapacitated when violated
- Perpetrators preying on incapacitated women and sometimes providing them with alcohol and drugs
- The “party mentality” problem with 58 percent of incapacitated rapes and 28 percent of forced rapes taking place at parties
- Campus perpetrators equating to repeat serial offenders—an average of six rapes each
- Lack of reporting sexual assaults by student victims to law enforcement—an appalling average of only 12 percent report the crimes
- Low arrest rate—approximately 12 percent of 238,000 annual rape and sexual assault victims result in arrests
A 2012 report by the CDC paints additional disturbing facts:
- Among sexual violence victims raped since their 18th birthday, 31.5 percent of women and 16.1 percent of men reported a physical injury with 36.2 percent of women requiring medical treatment
- During 2004–2006 an estimated 105,187 females and 6,526 males aged 10–24 received medical care in emergency rooms as a result of nonfatal injuries sustained from sexual assault
Character Education and Leadership Initiatives
As mentioned earlier, during the many years that I have been conducting security initiatives, I have done so by integrating character and leadership programs as part and parcel to the issue. Security and character are inseparable in efforts to safeguard campuses. These initiatives paint the importance of this cohesion:
- “Transforming American Schools: The Heart and Brick of Security”—my signature presentation on school/campus security and character education that has been conducted for law enforcement personnel and educators nationwide
- “Be a Person of Character: Change the World”—a presentation conducted for students from middle school through college
- Articles, blogs, and a newest book and this weekly Epoch Times column that continually emphasize the importance of integrating security with leadership and character development
- Training initiatives for all elements of society—students, families, corporations, educators, government leaders, and law enforcement that present security as inseparable from character, ethics, and leadership. Just this year, events at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey titled Inaugural Conference: Character, Ethics, Leadership and Be a Person of Character: Change the World at Monmouth University were both filled to capacity with over 1,000 law enforcement officials, students, and family members
Final Reflections
America must enhance and integrate security and character education initiatives at our colleges and universities.
Each and every week we see tragic headlines of rape and sexual assaults as well as the violation of ethical principles that breach the call to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Only when America integrates cutting-edge security measures including physical, personnel, and emergency procedures with character education that emphasizes leadership and ethical responsibility will we be on the right track for reawakening the nation.
Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for combating crime and violence and is a former confidant of the New York Yankees. His newest book is “Listen To Their Cries.” For more information, see www.vincentbove.com
