EDITORIAL: Part of living in the big city

Students shouldn't panic in reacting to Monday's shooting of College senior James McCormack. But students shouldn't respond blindly and think that traveling west of 40th Street isn't safe. While Monday night's shooting was upsetting and students should be concerned, there shouldn't be a knee-jerk reaction of fear across campus similar to the widespread concern that occurred last year when then-College senior Patrick Leroy was shot. College senior James McCormack should not have been shot during a failed carjacking. However, the University and the surrounding community are not in the throes of a crime wave. Overall, crime has significantly decreased compared to the same period last year. The University has "gone to great lengths," as University spokesperson Ken Wildes said, to increase security around campus as a result of last year's crime wave. There is a larger University Police force and Spectaguard patrols were increased. In fact, street lighting on the 4200 block of Pine Street where McCormack was shot had been increased as a result of the UC Brite program. The program has lit up several residential blocks in the West Philadelphia area. Part of the benefit of going to Penn is its location in a large metropolitan city. At the same time, crime is prevalent in the urban environment. Carjackings can happen anywhere, as comedian Bill Cosby's son was killed in a carjacking on a highway in Los Angeles earlier this year. Regardless of what area Philadelphia students happen to be in, they should take basic safety precautions and use common sense. For the freshmen and other students new to Penn, don't panic. And for the rest of the University community, remember this is not the fall 1996 crime wave and West Philadelphia is still Penn's home.