Campus News Brief: Wednesday, September 15, 1999

U. student robbed at gunpoint on campus University Police reported that at around 12:30 a.m., the student was walking on the 200 block of South 36th Street, between Van Pelt Library and the Psi Upsilon fraternity house, when she was held up by two men, one of whom was carrying a revolver. The two assailants had been sitting on a bench just north of Locust Walk before approaching the student. One of the two assailants pulled out a black revolver and ordered the student to hand over her wallet, containing $4 in cash and personal papers. The student was not injured in the robbery. The assailants were last seen heading east on Walnut Street. One assailant was described as a black male in his mid-20s, about 5'8" and weighing 160 pounds. The other one, also a black male in his mid-20s, was 5'8" and weighed about 200 pounds. No arrests have been made. Sunday's incident is the second armed robbery on or near campus since the start of the school year. On September 7, five seniors were robbed by two men on 40th Street between Walnut and Chestnut streets at around 3:15 a.m. One of the assailants was reportedly carrying a semi-automatic weapon. -- Rod Kurtz -- Sabrina Gleizer U., police union sign new three-year deal Late last month, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 113, which represents University Police officers, reached a three-year labor agreement with the Division of Public Safety. The new collective bargaining deal will remain in effect until August 1, 2002. In a joint statement released by Public Safety and FOP 113, University Police Chief Maureen Rush said that "both parties are very satisfied with the result of this year's negotiations." FOP President Tony Ramos said that the 104-member police force was "very happy" with the deal. These latest negotiations were much less contentious than the last time the labor deal expired, in August 1997. Officers then worked without a contract for more than seven months during federally-mediated talks between the two sides. Neither side would comment on the specifics of the new deal. -- Rod Kurtz