Gunmen rob three students

and Marisa Katz Three University students were mugged at gunpoint at 42nd and Pine streets at approximately 11 p.m. Monday. Almost $200 in cash, credit cards, Penn IDs, driver's licenses and a payroll check for over $1,000 were stolen, according to University Police. First-year Wharton graduate student Serena Satyasai described the incident, which she said began immediately after College senior Ariff Alidina entered his car parked on Pine Street. "Three guys came up to us and one of them pulled Ariff out of the car," she said. "They took his wallet and threw him against the car in order to frisk him for more money. "The guy claimed that he had a gun, but he didn't show it," she added. Satyasai explained that at the same time, she and College senior Sascha Abramson were robbed of their wallets by a second suspect armed with a semi-automatic weapon. She said none of the gunmen wore masks, but that it was, "so dark that I couldn't see two feet in front of me." "Both the University and area landlords could make a better effort to keep things better lit," she said. "It doesn't cost too much to light a porch." Satyasai, who attended college in New York City, said she considers her former home to be safer than Philadelphia. The incident also stimulated response from students who have previously voiced concerns about safety –– specifically poor lighting and limited obvious police presence –– in the area immediately west of the University campus. Alpha Phi Sorority President Joanne Pasternack said she has been commenting all along that "this area is not safe for students. "The recent incident is unfortunate, but I'm not surprised," the College senior said. Last October, following repeated complaints from Panhellenic Council members, Panhel leaders led Public Safety representatives on a walking tour of the area. While on the tour, Director of the Security Division of Public Safety Chris Algard commented that, "a lot of what we need to do is just add more lighting on the streets and trim back shrubbery." However, since much of the property is privately-owned, the University is limited in the action that it can take. Officials discussed the possibility of having meetings with large off-campus realtors to discuss safety. But according to Pasternack, not much has changed since October. Pasternack added that she hopes Monday's robbery "will serve as a jumpstart for the administration and will open their eyes to the severity of the situation." And Panhel President Lissette Calderon, a Wharton senior and Kappa Alpha Theta sister, said she has scheduled to meet with Algard to form a committee of students and faculty.