Find three historic, local dates related to your beat (Post to blog)

 When reporting on campus safety at Clark Atlanta University, it’s important to understand how city-wide trends affect student life. Here are three Atlanta statistics that help tell the story of campus safety and point toward important stories for students and staff.

1. Atlanta’s Property Crime Rate Remains High
According to the Atlanta Police Department’s 2023 annual report, the city recorded over 22,000 property crimes last year including burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft. This is especially relevant for CAU students, as property crimes like bike and car thefts often occur near college campuses.
Story Angle: What measures are CAU and neighboring colleges taking to protect students’ belongings, and how can students safeguard their property?

2. Increase in Citywide Emergency Alerts
The City of Atlanta issued more than 50 emergency alerts in 2023, covering issues from severe weather to police activity. Universities, including CAU, now rely more on rapid alert systems to keep students informed.
Story Angle: How effective are CAU’s emergency notifications, and do students know what to do when an alert is issued?

 3. Atlanta Ranks Among Top 10 U.S. Cities for Pedestrian Accidents

A 2024 report from the Governors Highway Safety Association lists Atlanta among the top 10 cities for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. With many CAU students walking or biking to class, traffic safety is a daily concern.
Story Angle: Are crosswalks, lighting, and traffic enforcement around campus keeping students safe? What improvements do students want to see?

By connecting these citywide stats to campus life, I plan to explore how broader Atlanta trends affect the safety and well-being of CAU students. These numbers aren’t just data they’re the foundation for stories that matter to our community.

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