Tarleton told of $137,500 fine for inaccurate crime documents
By JULIE VRAZEL
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
Copyright 2009
Tarleton State University could face a fine of $137,500 from the U.S. Department of Education for violations to a federal law that requires universities to disclose accurate information about serious crimes on their campuses.
"Tarleton recognized that unintentional mistakes had been made in its reporting under the Clery Act," the university said today in a prepared statement. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires campus crime information disclosure.
A Department of Education report, released today following an open records request by The J-TAC, states that the university underreported the number of sex offenses, drug law violations and burglaries between 2003 and 2005.
Tarleton's spokeswoman Liza Benedict said the university is appealing the fine.
"We are going to dispute, file and appeal because we feel they [Tarleton officials and police personnel] had incomplete knowledge of the Clery Act," Benedict said.
Any fine Tarleton might eventually be required to pay "will come out of the university's budget, so it will affect the entire campus," Benedict said.
Journalism students first reported the violations in spring 2007. Their stories were based on record obtained from Tarleton State University with help from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas' Light of Day Project.
Tarleton's "failure to distribute accurate and complete crime statistics resulted in incorrect information being given to Tarleton's current and prospective students, employees, and the public," an education official wrote to Tarleton's new President F. Dominic Dottavio. "Tarleton did not provide its students, employees, and potential students and employees and the public with an accurate picture of crime at Tarleton."
The violations took place before Dottavio was named president in 2008.
For more information, see this week's edition of The J-TAC.
Tarleton State University could face a fine of $137,500 from the U.S. Department of Education for violations to a federal law that requires universities to disclose accurate information about serious crimes on their campuses.
"Tarleton recognized that unintentional mistakes had been made in its reporting under the Clery Act," the university said today in a prepared statement. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires campus crime information disclosure.
A Department of Education report, released today following an open records request by The J-TAC, states that the university underreported the number of sex offenses, drug law violations and burglaries between 2003 and 2005.
Tarleton's spokeswoman Liza Benedict said the university is appealing the fine.
"We are going to dispute, file and appeal because we feel they [Tarleton officials and police personnel] had incomplete knowledge of the Clery Act," Benedict said.
Any fine Tarleton might eventually be required to pay "will come out of the university's budget, so it will affect the entire campus," Benedict said.
Journalism students first reported the violations in spring 2007. Their stories were based on record obtained from Tarleton State University with help from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas' Light of Day Project.
Tarleton's "failure to distribute accurate and complete crime statistics resulted in incorrect information being given to Tarleton's current and prospective students, employees, and the public," an education official wrote to Tarleton's new President F. Dominic Dottavio. "Tarleton did not provide its students, employees, and potential students and employees and the public with an accurate picture of crime at Tarleton."
The violations took place before Dottavio was named president in 2008.
For more information, see this week's edition of The J-TAC.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Bo Davidson
posted 11/03/09 @ 6:55 PM CST
"'We are going to dispute, file and appeal because we feel they [Tarleton officials and police personnel] had incomplete knowledge of the Clery Act,' Benedict said. (Continued…)
MIKE HENNECH
posted 11/04/09 @ 4:32 PM CST
What else would you expect from the Government and their numerous, vague laws and regulations? If the Government looks hard enough, they can probably fine every college in America for the same thing. (Continued…)
Chris Ireland
posted 11/06/09 @ 11:11 AM CST
Every major school that I have been associated with (Washington State University, Oregon State University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland School of the Arts) has bent over backwards to follow this rule for years and it helped keep students safe. (Continued…)
Annoyed
posted 11/12/09 @ 10:28 AM CST
First of all under reporting is a serious issue. As a parent when it comes time for my children to chose a college I will take a long gander at the crime stats of each school. (Continued…)
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