In a monthly crime report released this week, West Virginia University Police said there was an increase in vandalism, assaults, liquor law violations and other offenses on campus.
According to police data, crime reported in October increased 63 percent compared to last year with group A and B offenses increasing 21 and 94 percent, respectively.
Group A offenses include assault, burglary, vandalism and drug violations. Group B offenses include DUIs, public intoxication and liquor law violations.
Compared to last month, total offenses increased 28 percent.
While the data indicates a spike in crime on campus, university police Chief Bob Roberts said the number of offenses is low and in line with what has been reported in recent years.
"When you see a 21 percent increase in group A offenses, you think that's high, but it's a low number if it's under 100," he said.
There were 87 group A and 161 group B offenses in October.
Roberts added that those numbers are consistent with what has been reported over the last five years.
Most of the group A offenses were for marijuana possession and simple assaults, Roberts said. Last month, police reported 23 drug offenses and 19 assaults. There also were 21 cases of vandalism.
Roberts said group B offenses mostly were alcohol-related. Last month, police reported 90 liquor law violations, 17 instances of public intoxication and six DUIs.
Roberts said police are still fighting a battle with alcohol as part of a campus wide attempt to change the university culture.
"Sometimes that takes enforcement," he said, later adding that students can attend an education program after a first offense to have it dismissed.
In October, University police received nearly 3,000 calls for service. They also dealt with 277 cases and 234 victims. Police arrested 94 people and issued 64 criminal and 57 traffic citations.
West Virgina University Police releases crime statistics each month.
"We want to put it out there so the community is aware," Roberts said, later adding that an informed community is a safer community.
As part of the Clery Act, universities participating in federal financial aid programs must disclose crime information. The law requires universities to compile an annual report. West Virginia University's most recent report can be found at www.police.wvu.edu/clery-act.
In releasing monthly data, Roberts said West Virginia goes one step further.
Reach Samuel Speciale at sam.speciale@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @samueljspeciale on Twitter.