Officials reported an increase in robberies, rapes and stalking incidents across GW’s campuses in 2025, according to the University’s annual security report released last week.
The annual report, released last week in compliance with federal law, showed robberies increasing fivefold from two in 2024 to 10 in 2025, reported rapes rising about 35 percent from 17 to 23 and stalking reports climbing about 32 percent from 34 to 45. Criminology experts and a University spokesperson said growth in crime rates does not necessarily mean crime is increasing and could be the result of more awareness among students of the reporting process and willingness on the part of community members to report being the victim of a crime.
The Clery Act requires universities that receive federal funding to annually publish statistics on certain crimes reported to campus authorities or local law enforcement, including criminal offenses and hate crimes, as well as arrests and disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations. Universities are also required to report violations under the Violence Against Women Act, which creates a separate category within the report for reports of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking…