The USC Department of Public Safety today posted the 2020 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (ASR). This report is mandated by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, a federal law that requires colleges and universities across the country to disclose information about crimes reported on campus and its surrounding areas. The Clery Act also requires the university to notify prospective students and employees of the availability of the ASR so they may request a copy of the report.
The safety of everyone in our USC community is of paramount importance, and the ASR provides valuable information about resources, reporting and steps USC takes to focus on the well-being of those in our campus community. We are committed to providing an environment where we can each thrive and explore all USC has to offer.
The 2020 ASR includes statistics from 2018 and 2019 of Clery-reportable incidents related to George Tyndall, a former gynecologist in the student health center from 1989 until his removal from the center in 2016. The reports about Tyndall describe concerns about the manner in which he interacted with patients in a clinical setting, which in some instances, meet the criteria for classification as rape or fondling under the Clery Act definitions. The 2020 ASR reflects there were 100 reports of rape and 16 reports of fondling about Tyndall made during the 2018 calendar year, and seven reports of rape and two reports of fondling made during the 2019 calendar year. Based on guidance from the Department of Education, the university has committed to continue actively reviewing any additional information it receives and will revise the 2018 and 2019 Tyndall statistics, as needed. We will share updated numbers with the university community and the Department of Education in an accurate, complete and timely manner.
The university is committed to care, concern, consultation and compliance. It also is dedicated to fostering a culture of respect, reporting, and accountability. Our highest priority is ensuring that the university continues to support our community by making sure every student, faculty and staff member feels safe and confident about their USC experience.
We encourage all campus community members to report incidents of discrimination, harassment or retaliation to the Office of Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX by emailing eeotix@usc.edu. University community members also may access resources across campus, which include Counseling and Mental Health, the Office of the Ombuds, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services and Trojans Care 4 Trojans.
USC’s annual security report is now available online at https://dps.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020ASR.pdf. Individuals also may request a paper copy by contacting Dan Wallace, Records Manager for the Department of Public Safety, at (213) 740-5524 or by email at dwallace@dps.usc.edu.
