Police prepare for Relays

University Police will be at "maximum staffing levels" in anticipation of the large crowds attending the 101st running of the Penn Relays today and tomorrow, according to University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich. The increased Philadelphia and University Police presence on campus is a response to the rash of criminal activity that marred the 1994 relay carnival. Last year, University Police responded to several reports of gunshots, students being dragged from a car and severely beaten, a stabbing and a series of robberies and assaults during the Relay weekend. Kuprevich said the majority of the criminal activity occurred at 40th and Chestnut streets and on Spruce Street, between 34th and 38th streets, which he characterized as "hot spots." At 40th and Chestnut streets, a party of more than 1,000 people spilled out into the street blocking off the entire intersection. This year, Kuprevich said police would be employing similar tactics to those successfully used during last summer's Greek Picnic. The Greek Picnic is an annual gathering of black fraternities and sororities in Fairmount Park that, in past years, has been accompanied by increased reports of crime in University City. In addition, a concentration of University and Philadelphia Police officers will be detailed to the so-called hot spots, Kuprevich said. He also added that the city's division of traffic police will prevent vehicles from circling, or "cruising" campus. Kuprevich believes that the larger-than-expected crowd came to the University area last year because it was the 100th anniversary of the Relays and there were no other major events in Philadelphia over the weekend. He added that today is Hey Day -- the traditional ritual in which the junior class is officially pronounced seniors, and tonight the Philadelphia Phillies will play their season home opener. Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush said that personnel from her unit would be on hand for an extra four hours during the weekend, staying in the University Police mini-station at 3927 Walnut Street until 3 a.m. Last weekend, University Police were also at maximum staffing levels to handle Spring Fling-related events.

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