EDITORIAL: Looking out for our own safety

In the wake of the brutal assault on a sophomore woman in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall November 8, it's certainly understandable for students to be concerned about safety issues on campus. But that doesn't mean students, and especially student leaders, should go overboard and fan the flames of paranoia. Because Penn is an urban campus, students need to remember that it's impossible to make the University 100 percent crime-proof. While that is not an excuse for lax security, it means rare incidents, though serious, should not be blown out of proportion. Students must take responsibility for their actions. As the 16-year-old arrested for the assault likely entered the building through a door propped open by a student, we all need to be aware of our actions and do our best to keep campus safe -- even if it means taking an extra minute. Moreover, Undergraduate Assembly leaders should look before they leap. Handing out thousands of bulls-eye stickers labeled "Am I a Target?" only heightens fears unnecessarily. The UA's two resolutions on campus safety since the assault also demonstrate short-sightedness. Making demands before getting the facts of the case will not make campus safer; it'll just encourage students to cower in fear. Though it's easy to blame security guards for safety woes, the Division of Public Safety protects students to the best of its abilities -- and statistics show that crime has in fact decreased. Few people want the campus to become a fortress, and it's obvious that the police understand that. Students and administrators should continue to focus on ways to minimize the chances of an assault like last week's from ever happening again. But we shouldn't forget that we each have a role, too. After all, it could have been your friend, girlfriend, roommate or someone else you love.