Grand Valley State University is known for having a safe campus. In 2012, it was ranked the sixth safest campus in Michigan and in 2011 it was in the top 10. Many students have a sense of security at the university and normally feel safe walking around campus.

This sense of security isn’t always found on college campuses, and GVSU is lucky to have it. However, the university isn’t a haven exempt from all bad things. On Oct. 14, members of the GVSU community received an email regarding a reported sexual assault that occurred last week outside of the Robinson Living Center on the Allendale Campus. The suspect was not known at the time the email was sent.

On Sept. 11, students received an email regarding a reported sexual assault that occurred off campus at Country Place Apartments on Sept. 7. In this instance, a man reportedly broke into the student’s apartment around 3:50 a.m.

To say that it is unfortunate that a student is not safe in or near his or her own home is an understatement. It is frightening and sickening. It is also clear that students always need to be aware of their surroundings, whether they are on campus or at home, and they need to be informed of what is occurring around them.

At GVSU, there were 14 incidents of larceny, two burglaries, one aggravated assault and four reported sex offenses (two occurred in 2012 but were reported in 2013) in 2013, according to the 2014 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report released by the Grand Valley Police Department.

Universities are required to publish an Annual Security Report by Oct. 1 including incidents of homicide, sex offenses, robbery, assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, more commonly known as the Clery Act and the Campus Security Act, is a federal law that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

This year, GVSU has included additional information that goes beyond the requirements of this report to better inform students on campus. For this effort, we applaud GVPD.

Students should have this information available, and including additional information shows the commitment that GVPD has to the safety of campus and of keeping students informed of the incidents that have occurred. Though GVSU is a pretty safe campus, students should look at the report and find out how much has been reported so they are aware.

For example, larceny was the highest reported crime. Many students think that they don’t need to keep and eye on their belongings or don’t need to lock their door when they leave their dorm room or apartment. Taking these simple precautions are still necessary at GVSU though to reduce theft.

This year’s report is now available to students, faculty and staff. It is important to look at it to see what occurrences have been reported on campus, and to learn what resources are available to the GVSU community.