EDITORIAL: The right response

At last, administrators haveAt last, administrators havestarted to take seriouslyAt last, administrators havestarted to take seriouslystudents' fear of crime.At last, administrators havestarted to take seriouslystudents' fear of crime.__________________________ That said, the new policing initiatives University President Judith Rodin announced last night are a long-overdue adjustment to the University's safety and security system. Still, it's dismaying that as robberies in University City increased in both severity and frequency over the past three weeks, we heard not a word about safety precautions or services available to students required to travel at night. A letter like the one Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum e-mailed to students and newsgroups Wednesday afternoon was a classic case of too little, too late. Her message of safety precautions should have reached RAs and Greek house presidents, among others, at the start of the crime wave. And we have nothing but jeers for Political Science Professor Will Harris, who wondered snidely at University Council yesterday why students would even think of asking for a police officer for each off-campus corner. Maybe because we were, and continue to be, scared? Also at Council, Public Safety Managing Director Tom Seamon hedged and mumbled when confronted with hard questions about safety in West Philadelphia. His Director of Police Operations, Maureen Rush, did the same at Wednesday night's rally on College Green, which neither Rodin nor Seamon saw fit to attend. There is no reason why Rodin, Seamon and Rush could not have hinted that proposals for additional security manpower from multiple sources were in the works yesterday. Letting students know as early as possible that our frightened cries were being heeded would have eased much of the tension that hung over campus yesterday. We realize that Penn's urban location makes it more likely that students will get in harm's way. Seamon's year-old master safety plan was not working, and it's about time administrators agreed to try some aggressive new tactics. While the main responsibility for student safety lies with administrators and the police department, who must make crime-fighting their first priority for the conceivable future, we are willing to do our part to assist. And by continuing to press for an increased commitment of money and manpower to University Police, we will help ensure that safety is not shoved to the back burner after Patrick Leroy has recovered and a few uneventful weeks have elapsed.