By Danielle Reid (Whetstone contributor)

Despite the fact that this semester Wesley has experienced student fights, a robbery of six students by locals, and at least one instance of  a student bringing a gun to campus, a recent report and several students still say the college is safe.

According to the school’s annual fire and safety report, most of the crime at Wesley is alcohol-related; there were more than five times as many liquor law violations – 105 in 2009, 101 in 2010 and 43 in 2011 – than there were burglaries – 19 in 2009, 18 in 2010, and six in 2011.

While there was one forcible sex offense and one robbery reported in 2010, these were the only violence-related crimes in all three years reported.

Senior Unique Washington said being at Wesley is just like being at home or anywhere else.

“You’re susceptible to danger anywhere you go,” she said. “Wesley is as safe as it can be.”

Although some students on social media and in the hallways have said “Wesley isn’t safe,” the report put out by security says the opposite.

Senior Josh Houseknecht thinks security guards are sometimes in over their heads.

“I think they should get more security guards here,” he said. “I feel like there aren’t enough. There are a lot of fights that go on, and I know people who have been jumped.”

According to one campus safety site that ranks the safest to most dangerous campuses nationwide, Wesley came in 412th out of 454. The information was taken from private, four-year colleges and universities with 1,500-2,500 students.

Of the 454 schools fitting this category at campus-safety.findthedata.org, Wesley was one of only 253 schools with any crime reported. The school at No. 454, Saint Augustine’s College, reported 68 total crimes for the year; Wesley reported only 18.

Some students attribute the crime on campus to local residents.

“It seems like there is always something going on,” Houseknecht said. “I remember hearing gunshots outside when I lived in Malmberg and there was a shooting outside of Williams a few years back.”

While a student ID is required to enter a residence building, anyone can access the College Center or the plazas.

While there is always room for improvement, Houseknecht said he does generally feel safe.

“I think they should definitely put up a gate or something, but I feel like we’re safe inside the school, I think Walt (Beaupre, head of security) does a good job.”

At least Wesley has some security, Unique Washington said.

“When you’re home, someone could break in, or something could happen walking to your car from the store,” she said. “At least at Wesley they have precautions. They try to make it as safe as they can and I think it will only get better.”