Student Safety
Beyond the Borders
Investigative Reporter: Chad Pradelli
Investigative Producer: Cheryl Mettendorf
Data Journalist: Maia Rosenfeld
Digital Producer: Maia Rosenfeld
The Action News Investigative Team dug into crime data in the city of Philadelphia to find out just how safe college students are when they step off campus.
The shooting of Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald blocks from school property has brought the issue of campus safety to the forefront. But Temple isn't the only school dealing with crime around campus.
Under the federal Clery Act, colleges and universities are required to track and report certain serious crimes occurring on or adjacent to their campuses. In recent years, Philadelphia universities have reported increasing numbers of these "Clery crimes," which include homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, arson and sex offenses.
But the vast majority of these dangerous incidents near local schools lie just beyond the boundaries of mandated reporting. On the periphery of campus, where many students live, commute and congregate, violent and property crimes multiply under the radar.
The map below shows 6,672 Clery category crimes that have occurred within a quarter mile of major city universities' campus borders over the last five years. Just 22 percent of them were included the schools' annual security reports.
"There's a lawlessness that's going on across the country in urban environments," said Maureen Rush, who recently retired after 45 years in law enforcement. She spent the last two decades of her career at the University of Pennsylvania, where she eventually became Vice President of Public Safety.
Rush said as developers build new housing further from campus, where there are often cheaper rents, parents and students need to be aware of the dangers.
"Now you have to walk maybe a mile to campus, and you're not in the envelope of the protection," she warned.
Almost half of the Clery crimes near these five universities were in the area of Temple's campus, with over one-fifth near La Salle and the same share near Penn. Together, the areas around these three schools had about 94 percent of the aggravated assault firearm incidents within a quarter mile of these campuses since 2018.
Temple University Senior Vice President Ken Kaiser said he felt safe having his own son live on the periphery of campus as a Temple student a few years ago. He advised parents to do what he did then: research and inspect the neighborhood and housing options, and encourage students to use resources like walking escort services and the Temple shuttle service, Flight, when possible. But those services do not extend far beyond campus borders.
"We're not naive," said Kaiser. "Campus safety is definitely a concern for our families and has contributed to the decline in enrollment."
Among the Clery crimes near all five of these campuses since 2018, the most common were residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, and aggravated assault without a firearm. Robbery without a firearm was the fourth most frequent across these schools and among the top three crimes in the areas surrounding Penn and Drexel.
Mirroring city crime trends, annual motor vehicle thefts around the five universities increased nearly ninefold from 2018 to 2022, while aggravated assaults involving firearms almost doubled. Annual burglaries in these areas fell by about 28 percent during this period.
From 2018 through 2021, about nine out of 10 Clery crimes within a quarter mile of campus were not included in annual figures for Temple, La Salle and Saint Joseph's University, totaling more than 3,000 unreported crimes on the outskirts of the three campuses. The November 2021 murder of Temple student Samuel Collington was just one of those crimes omitted from the annual safety reports.
More than half of crimes within a quarter mile of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University were not counted in the schools' Clery Act totals.
As violent crime increases citywide, some critics and parents believe universities should extend their crime reporting to the areas surrounding their campuses.
Abigail Boyer is Associate Executive Director of the Clery Center in Fort Washington, which helps colleges across the country with Clery Act reporting and safety issues.
"The challenge is that it is hard to know where to draw the boundary," Boyer said.
Representatives from Drexel, Penn, La Salle and St. Joe's universities told Action News student safety is a top priority. But Rush advised parents to look out for their children's safety as well.
"Parents need to be wise consumers," she said, adding that they should "make friends with the division of public safety, the police department, wherever their children go."
About the Data
Data Snapshots
University of Pennsylvania
- Reported 77 Part 1 Clery crimes
- We found 263 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- 71% went unreported
2018
2019
- Reported 88 Part 1 Clery crimes
- We found 251 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- 65% went unreported
2020
- 63% went unreported
- We found 240 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 90 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 65% went unreported
- We found 327 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
- Reported 115 Part 1 Clery crimes
- Reported 66 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 90% went unreported
- We found 664 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 92% went unreported
- We found 551 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 42 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 86% went unreported
- We found 537 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 77 Part 1 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 86% went unreported
- We found 484 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 70 Part 1 Clery crimes
Temple University
- Reported 131 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 32% went unreported
- We found 194 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 69% went unreported
- We found 122 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 38 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 71% went unreported
- We found 142 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 41 Part 1 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 72% went unreported
- We found 146 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 41 Part 1 Clery crimes
Drexel University
- Reported 15 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 95% went unreported
- We found 299 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 95% went unreported
- We found 277 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 14 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 92% went unreported
- We found 243 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 20 Part 1 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 91% went unreported
- We found 274 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 26 Part 1 Clery crimes
La Salle University
- Reported 5 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 87% went unreported
- We found 33 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 91% went unreported
- We found 20 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 2 Part 1 Clery crimes
- 89% went unreported
- We found 31 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 4 Part 1 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 50% went unreported
- We found 11 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 11 Part 1 Clery crimes
Saint Joseph's University
Click on the logos below to see our findings for each university and their responses.
Our crime data come from the Philadelphia Police Department and Lower Merion Police Department crime logs. We pulled all crimes occurring within a quarter mile of the primary campus boundaries (defined by OpenStreetMaps) for each of the five universities included in our analysis. We then gathered official Clery Act figures from each school's Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports. To ensure a fair comparison, we limited our analysis to the non-hate crime, non-VAWA Part 1 criminal offenses required in Clery reporting: homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, arson and sex offenses (including rape and some Part 2 crimes).
INVESTIGATION
Click here to read Penn's statement.
The safety of students, faculty and staff is our top priority at Drexel University and something we take very seriously.
As a response to increased crime in Philadelphia, Drexel’s Department of Public Safety has added more dispatchers, more security officers and sworn officers to the Drexel Police force. The University has stepped up foot and bicycle street patrols, added more security cameras, and worked with SEPTA, the Philadelphia Police Department, and partners at University of Pennsylvania to coordinate increased patrols in areas affected by increased crime. The University also has increased patrols in areas where evening classes are held and is enhancing lighting on and around campus.
The University continues to strongly advise students to take proper precautions by downloading the Drexel Guardian app, which directly connects them to the Drexel Public Safety Communications Center in the event of an emergency, and by calling for a walking escort.
In accordance with state and federal laws, Drexel regularly reports and updates publicly available data on its Public Safety website on specific subsets of crimes that occur on campus property and areas adjacent to campus. This includes crimes that are designated for reporting under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, as well as Uniform Crime Reporting under the Pennsylvania College and University Security Act.
Drexel strictly adheres to reporting guidelines, in accordance with the Clery Act and Pennsylvania’s Uniform Crime Reporting procedures. These designate the geographical boundaries within which data should be recorded and reported. The University reports additional crime and public safety data in a number of ways in an effort to inform the community and assist the city in identifying crime trends that can lead to improved prevention strategies.
Drexel Public Safety publishes a Daily Crime Log that provides up-to-date information about reported crimes and fires occurring within its Public Safety patrol zone in the past 30 days.
In an effort to inform the community about the work of the Drexel Police Department, the University has created a Workload and Crime Dashboard which shares pertinent information in a user-friendly format with the Drexel community. To provide context and transparency about trends over time, the Dashboard displays three years’ worth of data in three categories: calls to Drexel Police for services; criminal statistics on crimes that Drexel Police respond to; and arrests and criminal complaints within Drexel’s patrol boundaries.
The University continues to work in collaboration with Philadelphia Police, Penn Police, and other local law enforcement agencies, to stay informed of crime trends in University City and responds accordingly.
– Niki Gianakaris, Drexel University
Penn has always prioritized compliance with federal Clery requirements. Our crime statistics reported in our Annual Security & Fire Safety Report are consistent with reporting requirements under the federal Clery Act, which has very specific definitions and geographic requirements, and necessitates that institutions not under or over-report beyond these requirements. The Clery geography crime statistics reported in our ASR are only one of the ways in which Penn communicates with the community about crime in the area.
Additional data on all crime, whether or not reportable under Clery requirements, reported over the last 60 days in our Patrol Zone can be accessed through our online crime log. Crime statistics older than 60 days can be requested via e-mail or in person at DPS headquarters. We also issue Timely Warnings consistent with Clery requirements. Finally, we send emergency notifications through our UPennAlert Emergency Notification system for any confirmed immediate threat to the health or safety of the campus community, some of which, while not reportable under Clery statistical requirements, are still of concern to our community.
In addition to the data we provide to our community, we use data analysis and crime mapping for the surrounding area to coordinate our deployment and operational strategies to best meet the needs of the community and respond to crime trends in the area. Our deployment methods include police patrols, Allied Universal Security patrols, and virtual CCTV patrols; we also coordinate and share information with Philadelphia Police, Drexel Police and other area law enforcement partners.
Ensuring the safety of our campus community is of utmost importance. La Salle Public Safety provides students, faculty, and staff with best practices and access to a range of services and resources that protect them and foster a culture of safety. We have a strong partnership and existing relationship with the Philadelphia Police Department, collaboratively working toward sustaining a safer Belfield community in Northwest Philadelphia. Just recently, we welcomed the members of Captain Massey’s leadership team in the 35th District to speak with our campus about our personal and collective roles in maintaining a safe community. Here at La Salle, available resources include the Rave Guardian app, a downloadable mobile app that serves as two-way communication tool and emergency-alert system. La Salle Public Safety is staffed every hour of every day and works in partnership with Philadelphia Police to patrol campus and the immediate off-campus neighborhoods—an intentional measure aimed at deterring crime and supporting quality of life in Northwest Philadelphia.
- Christopher A. Vito, La Salle University
Click here to read La Salle's statement.
Click here to read Drexel's statement.
Click here to read St. Joe's statement.
The safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount and we are confident in our comprehensive approach to public safety. While we cannot always control the external forces around us, we continue to serve as partners and collaborate with the surrounding neighborhood and the Philadelphia and Lower Merion police departments.
- Reported 66 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 90% went unreported
- We found 664 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 92% went unreported
- We found 551 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 42 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 86% went unreported
- We found 537 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 77 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 86% went unreported
- We found 484 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 70 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
Temple University
- Reported 115 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 65% went unreported
- We found 327 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 63% went unreported
- We found 240 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 90 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 65% went unreported
- We found 251 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 88 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 71% went unreported
- We found 263 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 77 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
University of Pennsylvania
- Reported 131 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 32% went unreported
- We found 194 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 69% went unreported
- We found 122 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 38 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 71% went unreported
- We found 142 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 41 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 72% went unreported
- We found 146 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 41 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
Drexel University
- Reported 15 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 95% went unreported
- We found 299 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 95% went unreported
- We found 277 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 14 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 92% went unreported
- We found 243 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 20 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 91% went unreported
- We found 274 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 26 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
La Salle University
- Reported 5 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 87% went unreported
- We found 33 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
2021
2020
- 91% went unreported
- We found 20 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 2 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
- 89% went unreported
- We found 31 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 4 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
2019
2018
- 50% went unreported
- We found 11 of these crimes within a quarter mile of campus
- Reported 11 Part 1/Part 2 Clery crimes
Saint Joseph's University