April 29, 2002

A series of articles reporting on crime and residence hall security at the University has won the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award for General Reporting by student journalists for the Northeast region.

The series of 11 articles, "Crime on Campus," was produced by 16 advanced journalism students, under the direction of Marcel Dufresne, associate professor of journalism. The 2001 prizes were presented April 20 during the regional SPJ conference at Syracuse University.

"Crime on Campus" also won second prize for in-depth reporting and is a finalist in the national SPJ competition.

Among the issues explored in the series were: an increase in serious crime at UConn, lack of growth in the police force, lax security in many residence halls, and how alcohol fuels much campus crime.

"Our students took an in-depth look at an important problem, one that troubles all campus communities," says Maureen Croteau, professor and head of the journalism department. "Through their reporting, they were able to give readers a comprehensive look at its causes and effects here. We are not only proud of their reporting, but also of the service that they performed for their readers."

The series also was recognized recently by Investigative Reporters and Editors, which named it one of five finalists in its national investigative contest for student journalism.