Early applications surge 21%

NOTICE TO PARENTS OF APPLICANTS: I am a parent of a UPenn junior and very pleased with the quality and diversity of the students.And of course satisfied with the superb faculty, support staff and programs available for my child. HOWEVER..the CRIME on and near campus has gotten out of control. Before allowing your child to say yes, if accepted, read the crime reports, ask the President and her security staff what they are doing to make the school a safe place for your child and demand honest answers. Justa UPenn parent Philadelphia suburb

There are lots of things to consider when choosing a college and each has advantages and disadvantages. right. You should have left it at that. Car accidents aren't really the biggest concern when choosing a school. Come on now. as for crime, it is bad right now. No denying it. However, as stated above, there are good and bad attributes of any and all schools. Weigh them. Don't be an alarmist. I was never a victim of crime at the university of pennsylvania, a pleasant change from my time in high school in Philadelphia. Lets not jump the gun and drive qualified applicants away from the school as such actions would have a detrimental effect on the quality of the university that everyone involved holds so dear. You want to hold the administration accountable, GOOD, DO THAT and stop trying to fuck up the school by driving away the talent the the university thrives on. recent alum

recent alum says "stop trying to fuck up the school by driving away the talent the university thrives on." I like your loyalty and hope you have a great life ahead as an alum of UPenn. But it is what it is! Let smart people be informed FULLY before making such a serious decision. There are federal laws that require the university to inform its student body, employees and public about certain crimes and if there are dangers lurking. Don't add to the cover up. As I said above, it is what it is. Justa UPenn parent Phila suburb

I agree with the recent alum, and I believe this article is the wrong place for parents to be venting their concerns about crime on campus. The recent incidents have absolutely been a huge problem there has to be a remedy immediately, and the administration has to act much more quickly and forcefully. But, I think you should make your comments about crime at the bottom of those articles. If you don't like Penn, and you feel like your adult son or daughter is in too much danger in this neighborhood, then pull them out of school. Otherwise, make constructive comments, call and write Amy Gutmann frequently, and stop trying to scare away potential students. As someone who wants to see Penn continue to improve, I think the concerned parents need to take a deep breath and figure out the proper way to express their concerns, without damaging this university's reputation any further. Mike, student Philadelphia

Here is today's article from The Sunday Inquirer Posted on Sun, Nov. 20, 2005 Robbery 'uptick' perturbs Penn By Patrick Kerkstra Inquirer Staff Writer A surge in violent robberies on and around the University of Pennsylvania campus this fall has spread fear among students, angered parents, and stirred bad memories of a decade ago, when University City was one of Philadelphia's most dangerous neighborhoods. Since Oct. 1, at least 10 students have been among the victims in 16 robberies reported to Penn police. Some were at gunpoint. Many of the crimes have followed a frighteningly similar pattern. The victims typically have been approached at night or in the early evening, usually by two or more assailants in their teens or early 20s. Frequently, they've been punched in the face or knocked to the ground before their money was demanded. One female undergraduate was pistol-whipped. The robbers have struck most often on the western edge of the Penn police force's jurisdiction, which stretches west from 30th Street to 43d and south from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue. Several of the most recent attacks, though, have been closer to Penn's core. Campus and Philadelphia police have made at least seven arrests, in one case catching two assailants in the act. All but one have been West Philadelphia residents, and most have been minors, including a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy - although a pair of 20-year-old brothers also was apprehended. The attacks tend to subside after an arrest, only to start up again within days. University officials say the spate of robberies reflects higher crime rates citywide. But that hasn't placated students. They are variously calling for better lighting and more police, the sacking of Penn's security chief, and the repeal of the school's ban on carrying concealed weapons. "This situation is out of control," read one of hundreds of angry postings by students and parents on the Web site of the campus newspaper, the Daily Pennsylvanian. "If the administration can't keep students reasonably safe on campus, then they need to close up shop." Asked on Tuesday about the spike in robberies, Penn president Amy Gutmann said, "We're bringing it under control," and called campus safety her "absolutely highest priority." She also cautioned against comparing the current trouble to that in the mid-1990s, when violent crime in West Philadelphia created a major image problem for Penn. "Don't say crime is like it used to be here," Gutmann said, "because it isn't." Nonetheless, she has been worried enough to urge students, in a campus-wide e-mail last month, to "exercise good judgment and take appropriate precautions." And at a Nov. 10 meeting, she asked Mayor Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson to do more to keep the Penn community safe. Campus security chief Maureen Rush said her department noticed the first signs of an "uptick" in crime in April. The incidents were minor - bike thefts, smashed car windshields. But her "gut," she said, told her something more serious could be coming; Rush sensed the "familiar feel" of the mid-1990s. That angst-ridden era began with the 1994 murder of Penn graduate student Al-Moez Alimohamed in a $5 robbery gone wrong. It was followed 26 months later by the stabbing death of university researcher Vladimir Sled. They were only the most notorious of the violent crimes that plagued Penn for several years. Since the late 1990s, though, crime on the campus and in the immediate vicinity has plummeted 50 percent, campus police said. Some credit for that goes to the university's continuing efforts to redevelop West Philadelphia. But the improving numbers are due more to Penn's massive investment in security. Penn's police force now includes 101 sworn officers, supplemented by 347 security personnel. On and off campus are nearly 300 surveillance cameras, continually monitored from a sophisticated control room. With an operating and capital budget of $24 million, the department is one of the largest, best-funded university security operations in the nation. "Penn has done a heck of a lot to ensure the safety of students, short of building a glass bubble around campus," said Catherine Bath, executive director of Security on Campus, a King of Prussia-based group that serves as a school-safety watchdog. In response to the recent robberies, Penn and Philadelphia police have launched joint investigations, and at night the security presence has been stepped up. On Thursday evening, for example, at least a dozen police officers and Penn security personnel were conspicuous on corners throughout the area. Although the robberies have been clustered around Penn, at least two victims were students from neighboring Drexel University. The school doesn't have its own police force, but the private security guards it hires have increased their night patrols, said Drexel security chief Bernard Gollotti. No matter how exhaustive the efforts, Rush said, there is no way to prevent crime in any environment, particularly an urban one. Some parents and students "have expectations that we'll never be able to meet," she said. Indeed, nearly every robbery report has been followed by calls for petition drives, protests - and more. Penn undergraduate Cory Bray, who heads the school's College Republicans chapter and knows one of the robbery victims, has loudly condemned the administration and urged students to apply for concealed-weapons permits. "If Penn can't protect us," he said, "we should be able to protect ourselves." Most students have been more restrained in the precautions they take. "Everyone's just more watchful," said sophomore Scott Kyle. Some seemed less concerned with their safety than with the potential injury to their school's image. "I'm worried most about reputation," said junior John Kneeland. "What are people going to think of the University of Pennsylvania when they come to visit campus and the Daily Pennsylvanian is talking about crime waves?" Kneeland needn't worry yet. Penn reported on Thursday that it had received a record number of undergraduate applications for early admission: 4,148, a 21 percent increase over last year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paste of Philadelphia newspaper Phila area

The Issue here is not crime- it is whether an admitted student, already having fallen in love with PENN, will learn how to avoid being targeted. It is the job of the parent and the school to see that students understand how to be safe. I must agree with the recent alum in that articles hailing the best school in the country (undoubtedly a major marketing tool) should not be undermined by parents with trivial insecurities. Perhaps you could vent your worries directly to the school instead of acting as a hindrance to a campaign that has nothing to do with crime in the fist place. current freshman

OK - here's a question. What exactly was done 10 yrs ago (when most of these punks were little kids and hadn't been influenced yet) to so drastically lessen the crime? Someone will inevitably say Maureen Rush wasn't around and we had a different President - but really, what did they do to get rid of it then? Parent kycheber@optonline.net

As a recent Penn alum now living in West Philadelphia, I just wanted to point out that safety is not just the responsibility of the Penn administration. Students need to be aware of their surroundings and cognizant of basic precautions. Many of these incidents have occurred late at night and the victims have been individuals walking alone with iPod, bulging wallet and laptop in hand. Be smarter than that. Use all of the resources that Penn already provides (898-WALK, 898-RIDE, etc.) before you go criticizing the Penn administration (which, by the way, has done almost everything but hire personal bodyguards for each student.) My suggestion to all of you concerned parents is to encourage your children to be more aware and more responsible for themselves before you blame Amy Gutmann. Recent Alum II Philadelphia, PA