Number of assaults at Penn more than double in 2009

While overall crime levels dropped by 14 percent overall in 2009, the number of assaults reported to the Division of Public Safety rose by 55.9 percent as compared to assault statistics from 2008.

The growth within the Penn Patrol Zone — which spans from Baltimore Avenue to Market Street and from 30th Street to 43rd Street — corresponds to a general rise in the number of assaults reported on college campuses across the country.

The increase, however, can be attributed in part to “better [crime reporting] practices and policies” implemented by colleges and universities, according to Jonathan Kassa, executive director of Security on Campus, a nonprofit organization that promotes campus safety nationwide.

“Schools which report higher statistics may in fact be safer because they’re collecting data and reporting properly,” Kassa said, adding that it is difficult to determine whether the growing statistics are due to actual crime increases or better reporting.

Additionally, the recent trend in assaults over the last five years at Penn has involved “people known to each other” — for instance, students or party-goers who have had some form of previous contact, according to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.

While DPS saw a 90-percent increase in the number of assaults resulting in significant injuries reported, “none [of them] involved the average person walking down the street,” Rush said.

The few cases of “arbitrary” assault — in which strangers attacked passersby with whom they had no prior contact — involved “young juveniles daring each other to mess with someone,” Rush said, noting that “stranger on stranger” assault does not occur frequently. In 2009, there were three cases of assault involving violence initiated by young juveniles, according to DPS spokeswoman Stef Cella.

Rush also noted the recent emergence of an “alarming” national trend involving individuals assaulting police officers.

Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey recalled incidents when an officer filling out paperwork in his police car was assaulted by a person high on narcotics.

Both Rush and Dorsey affirmed that most assaults on or near campus did not involve Penn students. In addition, of the 34 assaults reported last year that did not involve violence against police, only four involved members of the Penn community.

Dorsey added that DPS is working toward “[keeping] police visible” to reduce assaults.

While Rush also attributed Penn’s strong police presence to reducing “stranger violence” against Penn students and staff, she also noted that no increase in police presence will deter people who get into conflicts at parties in private residences from committing assault.

Although the statistics suggest that the odds of encountering assault as a Penn student remain fairly slim, Rush emphasized the importance of remaining aware and alert of one’s surroundings at all times — particularly while walking alone at night.

“Using your cell phone or BlackBerry is a bad idea, almost as bad as being plugged into your iPod,” Rush said, naming “awareness” as the number-one key way to avoid being a victim of crime.

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