Students who have seen the ASU Department of Public Safety's 2003 crime report have mixed feelings about their safety on campus.
The department recently published its yearly report outlining the number of crimes that occurred on campus and in University-owned buildings in 2003.
The report showed there was a more than 30 percent increase in the number of assaults; 30 reported to DPS in 2003, compared to 23 in 2002.
But some students did not seem concerned about the jump.
Undeclared freshman Greg Mosbacher said assaults aren't what worry him.
"With all the other things that have increased this year I'm not sure that [the assaults] worry me," Mosbacher said.
Mosbacher said Tempe itself has taken some getting used to.
"I'm from a real small town in Pennsylvania so it's weird to see this many police out in general," he said.
Although theft only rose by about 12 percent in the last year, some students said they were more concerned about that crime because of the number of thefts: 1,127.
"I've walked around campus and seen parts of bikes that had been stolen, but I didn't know there were that many thefts," Mosbacher added.
Family studies sophomore Erin Isaacson said she thought burglaries and thefts would be most prevalent on campus but was also surprised at the number.
"I thought I would see more sex crimes," Isaacson said.
Forcible sex offenses rose by one since last year, but are still down four incidents compared to 2001.
Isaacson said she thought such crimes might be unreported because women are afraid.
"I have known several friends that have been victims of rape and assaults but haven't reported them," she said.
The study showed there were five hate crimes reported in 2003, which is three more than both of the previous years combined.
Isaacson said she didn't understand why hate crimes have increased.
"With a campus that is so active in educating students about different issues, I couldn't say why it would increase," she said.
Isaacson said she doesn't frequently walk on campus at night.
"My last class ends at 6," she said. "I don't go to the library to study at night because I feel safer staying at home than walking to and from my car."
Mosbacher also said he was more concerned when walking at night in Tempe.
Isaacson said the data the report included about the city of Tempe was most alarming.
"I live near Southern and Mill [avenues] and the apartment complex next to me can get kind of dangerous," she said. "The people there call it the war zone."
ASU DPS officials could not be reached for comment.
Reach the reporter at mark.saxon@asu.edu.
