Published Sept. 25, 2012

Butler University Police Department has the power to arrest in certain areas outside of Butler’s campus.

BUPD officers are also equipped with firearms and other tools used by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers.

So why won’t BUPD release all incident reports to those who request them like other police forces do?

On Sept. 11, a  male student shot another student with a pellet gun at Apartment Village.

Though the offender could be charged with a crime in Indiana, little is known about who did it.

A student committed a crime.

But since he was a Butler student and the crime happened on campus, there’s no telling who it was or what has happened to him.

BUPD has given a laundry list of reasons to not release the full details of the incident, including the name of the student who violated both state law and university rules.

All that is known is what BUPD is obligated to maintain by federal law: a crime log that reports the bare bones of crimes and other incidents on campus—a simple what, when and where.

The names of perpetrators are left out, even in extreme circumstances like sexual and violent crimes.

In the pellet gun case, the department opted to not release a full incident report but decided to grant access to a redacted version of the report.

This version had names and other key information blacked out.

While public institutions are required by law to release full incident reports, private institutions are not required to do so but have the option.

And since officers at Butler have full arresting powers and act as the sole police force for Butler, they should follow the same public records laws.

If someone commits a crime on campus, it is a matter of public safety.

Students and faculty should be aware of who committed the crime and how that person was punished so they don’t have to live in fear.

BUPD may not have an obligation outlined by law to release reports, but it has a moral one.

Butler isn’t just where students go to school.

This is their home.

In any other neighborhood, incident reports make people aware of those who may be causing trouble around them.

The department has also refused to release reports if the victims of on-campus incidents decide not to press charges.

Anytime a report is filed with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, it becomes public record, and the release can’t be denied.

But at Butler, if the victim decides to not press charges, the incident report—including the name of the suspect—stays under lock and key.

This isn’t true in the real world.

Off Butler’s campus, crimes are reported and the criminals are named, even if there are no formal charges pressed.

BUPD must stop trying to protect those who commit crimes on campus, in our neighborhoods and in our  homes.

To not release the names of victims of sexual and violent crimes is understandable.

But it is unacceptable to not hold law-breakers and rule-violators responsible for their actions.

If students make the choice to commit a crime, they should be treated as any other adult would be if they broke the law.

Students are adults who know the difference between right and wrong.

Their status as students at a private university does not set them apart from the rest of the world and grant them anonymity when they commit crimes.

The rest of the university community may feel as though perpetrators get off with a slap on the wrist in many situations because punishments are not released.

BUPD is a legitimate police force, and it needs to act more like one.

Releasing incident reports consistently is vital to the community to show students that BUPD takes crime seriously.

The Butler University Police Department is investigating a woman’s allegation that she may have been drugged while at a Dec. 2 party at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.

The woman, whose name was not released by police upon her request, first made the allegation to BUPD March 8.  She is not certain her drink was spiked.

“It probably occurred here if something happened,” Hunter said.

After it was ordered to stop operations in the fall, the fraternity could come under renewed scrutiny if the latest allegation has weight.

“If evidence bears out one particular location on campus is an issue, then student affairs will deal with it,” said Ben Hunter, chief of staff.

There is a suspect in the case who is known by the victim and who has been identified to police, according to BUPD’s case log.

Hunter said it is possible that Detective Bruce Allee, head of the investigation, has narrowed the search to one person.

Allee said the investigation is ongoing.

“He’ll either close it out if it’s unfounded, or he’ll leave it open and continue to investigate,” Hunter said.

The university hit Phi Kappa Psi with a cease-and-desist order following an alleged sexual assault that is said to have occurred on its property in September.  That case is still under investigation.

Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens, citing university privacy policy, did not disclose whether the fraternity remains under sanction.

“Phi Psi should not have had a party on December 2,” Stevens said.  “Conduct probation typically [means] no parties.”

Under state law, the act of slipping a drug into a person’s drink is assault.  BUPD has listed the alleged act as battery with bodily injury.

Hunter said the case is difficult to investigate.

“We don’t have the drink,” he said.  “We didn’t have a whole lot to go off.  We’ll look at it and see what we can do to move it forward.”

More than three months passed between the time the woman believes her drink was spiked and the first report to police.  Hunter said he didn’t expect that to hinder the investigation.

“At some point, like two years from now, it does lose its ability to go back and be pieced together,” he said.  “December, I don’t know that that’s such a huge hurdle.”

Phi Kappa Psi president Ryan Medas did not respond to a request for comment.  Individual members, citing fraternity policy, declined comment on Phi Kappa Psi’s standing with Butler.

“Probation typically lasts longer than a couple months,” Stevens said.

Hunter said he was not aware of any similar reports stemming from the night of Dec. 2 or from Phi Kappa Psi in general.

Stevens said her office will wait for BUPD to complete its investigation before reaching any decision on potential discipline, which could apply to an individual, to a Greek house or to both.

“We always take past behavior and past sanctions into account, whether it be individual or group,” Stevens said.  “Sanctions will be more stringent on the second and third violation.”

It is possible the case could be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, though Hunter said criminal charges are unlikely.

“It’s going to be difficult to go that route because you don’t have evidence,” he said.

University discipline, Hunter said, is possible if the allegation is found to be true.

The victim has the option to ask student affairs to pursue university conduct charges.  Stevens, who oversees all conduct outside Butler’s residence halls, would then determine whether to charge a student or an organization with a violation.

In his fourth year at Butler, Hunter said spiked drinks have not been an issue during his tenure.

“If it is, it’s not getting reported,” he said.  “If this is occurring in our community, it’s disappointing, to say the least.  We want people to report them to us.”

Stevens said students should keep drinks in closed containers and avoid leaving them unattended.

Allee said they should realize drugs like Rohypnol, commonly called roofies, could appear at just about any location.

“We know they’re out there,” he said.  “We don’t know if they’re pervasive. It’s much more of a hazard away from school than it is here.”

Allee said the drugs severely slow respiration and could even prove fatal if the person does not get to the hospital as quickly as possible.

There is no timeline for BUPD’s investigation.

On campus this week, students may catch a glimpse of a large poster board covered in blue thumbprints. Blue is the traditional ribbon color for Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Students who place their thumbprint on the board make a pledge to their fellow students and to themselves to take the initiative in preventing and reporting sexual assaults.

I placed my thumbprint on the board, and whether or not students have an opportunity to do so, every Bulldog should make that pledge. Student safety is every student’s responsibility.

Butler University students should be especially aware of the problem following the report of a sexual assault at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house.

Butler University Police Department issued a warning for all students regarding their safety. While the warning is necessary and helpful for students, the pledge makes the issue personal. It represents a commitment by the entire student community, faculty and staff to protect each other and prevent sexual assault.

Underreporting is tragically common for crimes of this nature, which is precisely why Sexual Assault Awareness Week is so important. According to Andrew Ryan, assistant chief of police at BUPD, sexual assault is underreported.

It is imperative for students to watch out for each other, encourage victims to report the crimes committed against them and to call out inappropriate actions when they see them.

Sexual assault devastates its victims, and the community at large suffers as well. Victims of sexual assault may feel alone, but Butler offers services to reach out and help.

Sarah Barnes, coordinator for health education and outreach programs, identified several resources available to students, including the victim advocate program and 24-hour victim advocate phone line, which provides support to victims of sexual assault or other types of violence.

“We want students to take ownership of their safety and that of the community,” Barnes said.

She added that sexual  assault incidents don’t happen in a bubble, and students need to be vigilant about contacting BUPD to keep campus safe.

That’s what the pledge is all about.

“One time is too many,” said Butler Police Sergeant Anthony Rivera.

He encouraged victims to come forward and seek help, and he encouraged all students to get educated about preventing sexual assaults.

Although sexual assault victimizes individuals, the entire community must fight the problem.

So please take advantage of the vast array of services Butler has to offer.

Whenever necessary, step up and take action for the health and safety of fellow students, the university and the Butler community.