Despite several shootings on campus this year, officials at Security on Campus think Penn hasn't dropped the ball on safety.
In fact, SOC, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing violence on college campuses, selected the University to host its kick-off to the second annual National Campus Safety Awareness Month, held yesterday.
SOC Executive Director Catherine Bath said Penn was chosen in part because of its proximity to the SOC headquarters at King of Prussia Mall, though she added that the University's safety programs made it worthy of the selection.
"UPenn has done a fine job . not only with the programming that they do for the students but also in the efforts for keeping students safe," she said.
The organization is not deterred by the bout of crime that struck the University last year, Bath said, adding that the University deserves praise for its willingness to report crime. Schools that participate in federal financial-aid programs are required to publish crime statistics by the federal Clery Act.
This September's National Campus Safety Awareness Month will focus specifically on preventing high-risk drinking and sexual assault, Bath noted.
