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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: News
U. announces new security initiatives
Measures focus on increased lighting, cameras; no new guards, police officers on the agenda
Katie Karas
The University will implement a series of initiatives to supplement security on and around campus, officials announced in an e-mail to the University community late Thursday night.
The new measures include additional police overtime hours, increased lighting, new security cameras and three new transit stops on the boundaries of campus.
The announcement comes just three days after a 20-year-old female student was sexually assaulted by an unknown male inside her apartment on the 4000 block of Spruce Street.
Two weeks earlier, on Oct. 28, a gunfight broke out outside the Koko Bongo nightclub at 38th and Chestnut streets, leaving one person dead and two others injured, including a police officer.
"The two most recent incidents have changed people's perception about crime and have heightened concern and awareness," Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli said. "These measures are intended to address people's fears and concerns."
Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush added that the new initiatives are not a reaction to the recent incidents, explaining that the administration had planned to enact the measures for weeks prior to Monday's sexual assault.
"The announcement was put out quicker because it was clear the community needed to hear from" Penn President Amy Gutmann, Rush said.
It is not yet clear exactly how much the new initiatives will cost, though Carnaroli said they will total at least $2 million. The first phase toward improving lighting, which will span the area from 33rd to 40th streets and Walnut to Spruce streets, will cost about $1.2 million.
The costs of the overtime security forces will "go up and down depending on our needs," Rush said.
Three new security cameras, with prices starting at about $30,000, will be installed on the western boundary of campus in an effort to provide more surveillance coverage for those living in off-campus housing, Rush said.
"I think these measures will add to the effectiveness of the program," she added. "The wild card is that we don't control the universe, but we can do everything possible to ensure that we're doing everything we can as a university to counter the negativity that is in the air here in Philadelphia."
The new measures include additional police overtime hours, increased lighting, new security cameras and three new transit stops on the boundaries of campus.
The announcement comes just three days after a 20-year-old female student was sexually assaulted by an unknown male inside her apartment on the 4000 block of Spruce Street.
Two weeks earlier, on Oct. 28, a gunfight broke out outside the Koko Bongo nightclub at 38th and Chestnut streets, leaving one person dead and two others injured, including a police officer.
"The two most recent incidents have changed people's perception about crime and have heightened concern and awareness," Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli said. "These measures are intended to address people's fears and concerns."
Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush added that the new initiatives are not a reaction to the recent incidents, explaining that the administration had planned to enact the measures for weeks prior to Monday's sexual assault.
"The announcement was put out quicker because it was clear the community needed to hear from" Penn President Amy Gutmann, Rush said.
It is not yet clear exactly how much the new initiatives will cost, though Carnaroli said they will total at least $2 million. The first phase toward improving lighting, which will span the area from 33rd to 40th streets and Walnut to Spruce streets, will cost about $1.2 million.
The costs of the overtime security forces will "go up and down depending on our needs," Rush said.
Three new security cameras, with prices starting at about $30,000, will be installed on the western boundary of campus in an effort to provide more surveillance coverage for those living in off-campus housing, Rush said.
"I think these measures will add to the effectiveness of the program," she added. "The wild card is that we don't control the universe, but we can do everything possible to ensure that we're doing everything we can as a university to counter the negativity that is in the air here in Philadelphia."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
TCB
posted 11/19/07 @ 10:05 AM EST
While I don't blame DPS for not preventing these horrible crimes of late, I am disturbed by the lack of visibility on the southwest side of campus. There used to be a university police officer assigned to the 40th & Spruce area who used to knock on doors to advise residents that their doors were left unlocked or meet with them to go over crime prevention tips. (Continued…)
Student
posted 11/19/07 @ 10:07 AM EST
I am nominating Maureen Rush as Queen of the Universe so that she can add more cameras and officers to areas of high crime.
Scott
posted 11/19/07 @ 11:20 AM EST
There is a lot of criticism leveled at Penn Police. Realistically, what else do you want them to do? I have seen their response time to calls, when I was an undergrad. (Continued…)
John
posted 11/19/07 @ 3:11 PM EST
Wow, Rush hasn't been fired yet? Heckuva job, Brownie.
J
posted 11/19/07 @ 5:29 PM EST
What Penn needs to do is start "sting" operations reminiscent of the days of Rizzo's Raiders and the Granny Squad. Dress up young police officers like college kids with an IPOD in their ear and bait the criminals. (Continued…)
Paige
posted 11/19/07 @ 5:40 PM EST
"These measures are intended to address people's fears and concerns."
Shouldn't the measures be to make the campus safer???
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