Women tell panel they don't feel safe

Women do not feel safe on or off campus, a group told University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich last night. Kuprevich was one of three panelists at last night's "Safety and Security Forum for Penn Women" discussion, held in the Castle. Kuprevich was joined by Linda Hyatt, executive director of the president's office, and Barbara Cassel, assistant vice provost for University life and interim director of Victim Support and Special Services, and about 40 other women. Participants complained that while there is a high concentration of officers along Locust Walk and at other spots throughout the campus, off-campus areas lack security. Kuprevich fended off accusations of poor security efforts off campus and noted the positive points of current safety policies. "It's not that they're not there [off-campus]?we just have to concentrate on campus," he said. "I don't want to have people getting hurt on campus – that is our primary concern." Kuprevich said he has tried to make positive changes during his three years at the University. When he arrived, he said, the city of Philadelphia would not allow blue light telephones outside of the University's campus, and since that time six have been installed. "Much of this is a matter of jurisdiction and legal issues," Kuprevich said. "We can't go out there and forget about the campus itself." A general consensus among the women in attendance was that, while safety is largely a personal responsibility, there is always more the administration can do to protect its students. Panhellenic Council President Allison Marinoff said she was pleased with the turnout, which she thinks was high because of recent reports of an attempted rape of a University student. The student, who was present at the forum, emphasized the importance of relations between administration officials and students. She said it is essential to heighten awareness throughout the student body. One woman brought nods of agreement from participants when she seemed to sum up what everyone was thinking. "We are paying a lot of money to get a good education, but what good would that education do if we're dead after being mugged?" Afterward, Marinoff called the forum "definitely positive and constructive." "This is the first step in the right direction, but we must realize that the administration and students must continue to work together towards the solutions of these issues," the College senior said. The event was sponsored by the Panhellenic Council, Greek Social Action Committee and the Penn Women's Center.