That rape made headlines. But if you’re a UAlbany student or parent, chances are you wouldn’t know about many other crimes. Most don’t appear in the data UAlbany reports to the federal government. Records show many failed to trigger e-mail alerts to students.
A Times Union investigation of the UAlbany off-campus crime problem spotlights a gap in the federal law that forces colleges nationwide to disclose crime data. That law, the Clery Act, holds schools accountable only for campuses, noncampus buildings such as fraternity houses, and adjacent public property like sidewalks.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 93 percent of violent crimes against college students occurred off campus. But even if students are repeatedly robbed and assaulted blocks from the college, a school has no legal obligation to report the crimes or warn students.