Seminar imparts common safety tips

In an attempt to alleviate concerns about safety on and around campus, several University security organizations gave presentations last night on how students can protect themselves. Three Penn students -- Wharton senior Jennifer Tosti and College seniors Ariel Bierbaum and Anaita Kasad -- organized the event, at which safety information was provided by the University Police and Women's Anti-Violence Education, a Philadelphia-based non-profit group. Organizers provided handouts that contained general advice and dates for future sessions where students can learn self-defense techniques. "We just felt that having moved off-campus, we felt unsafe and we knew that our friends would be interested in learning how to handle uncomfortable situations." Tosti said. "Once we started planning it we decided to open it up to everybody." She acknowledged, though, that the majority of those among the small audience were friends or acquaintances of one of the organizers. Sara Shenkan, a Harnwell College House resident advisor who acted as co-sponsor on behalf of the house, concurred. "We wanted to educate Harnwell House and the community at large," the College senior said. University Police Det. Supervisor Patricia Brennan --Ethe acting director of Special Services -- and Penn Det. Jim Blackmore spoke for the Penn Police. Blackmore offered many practical bits of advice for how to avoid confrontational situations. He discouraged students from talking to or giving money to local vagrants, pointing out that the majority of them make up to $80 per day panhandling but spend all their money supporting chemical dependencies. The University's blue-light phone system, escort service and other basic safety support systems were also reviewed. One audience member posed a question concerning what the inquisitor deemed "grouping" -- or the tendency she noticed of local cops congregating in certain areas while others blocks are left neglected. Ultimately Brennan responded that she could only account for the University Police; the Philadelphia Police are beyond her control. Marie Bloom of WAVE explained how Penn students, particularly women, can protect themselves, using an energetic demonstration to show how to discourage potential attackers. Bloom also addressed the issue that served as an impetus for the meeting, the rapes of several college-aged women in Center City. A moment of silence to "acknowledge the reality" of the crimes was called for. Since the seminar was organized by three female students in response to the rapes, and most of the audience was female, women's safety was the primary focus. All the speakers encouraged audience members to attend the free rape aggression defense courses being offered by the Penn Police.

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