Responsibility for safety is our own

It was 3:15 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Walnut Street was completely empty. I was walking home alone from a friend's apartment -- sober, mind you -- when, at the intersection of 39th and Walnut, I noticed a couple of teenagers on bikes riding around, seemingly minding their own business. And so I minded my own business, and briskly walked past them without hesitation. But soon, I got that feeling, that eerie feeling that you get when you know that someone is following you. I felt a jolt of adrenaline all of a sudden as I realized that I was about to get jumped. I walked faster, for I was barely 30 feet from my home and safety. But alas, less than ten feet away from my door, I felt a giant hand come from behind, strangling me.

Luckily for me, my attackers fled as soon as I got enough air in my lungs to scream for help. Needless to say, it could have been much worse. But, tempted as I was to blame the Penn Police for not having been there, patrolling the campus in my hour of need, I realized that it is I -- or collectively, we, the students -- who are Penn's best weapon against crime.

One might think that this is obvious, but it is not so. Far too often, we tend to blame others before we examine ourselves. Think back to last year, when the beginning of the fall semester brought with it, as it does every year, a surge in the number of campus crimes. Not surprisingly, everyone panicked and immediately demanded more police patrols and more SpectaGuards on duty, since there obviously weren't enough if people were being mugged. No one seemed to notice the fact that more vigilance should have been demanded of the students who were the victims of crime, many of whom committed my mistake: walking alone at night, and not being aware of their surroundings.

These are rookie mistakes, ones that freshmen often commit since they are new to Penn; hence the corresponding spike in crime. Obviously, the Penn Police can only do so much. They can't be everywhere at once, at all times. A certain degree of vigilance is expected from us students. But I feel as though, far too often, we galvanize ourselves with the "it can't happen to me" or "this is an Ivy League university, so I must be safe" frame of mind. So we take things for granted and ignore sound advice as a waste of our time, or simply don't take it to heart. Remember that mandatory Campus Safety lecture that you slept through during NSO? I took a nap too, and I surely regret it.

Hence, when this time of the year comes again, and students criticize the Penn Police for not doing enough to prevent crime, I will gladly salute the campus police officers and thank them for their exemplary service. After all, we do have one of the largest private police forces in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed with which Penn Police responded to my call, and the follow-up calls and detective work that ensued. Within a week, I was brought in to look at composites to identify my attackers, even though I expected that the police would not be able to do anything to bring them to justice. I was impressed, to say the least, and felt safe again.

But this is no reason to be complacent. Yes, Penn does have an outstanding militia of security personnel, but still the responsibility for our safety starts with us. After my mugging, I did what I should have done the whole time. I called 898-WALK when I needed to walk somewhere late at night, and encouraged my friends to do the same whenever they left my place late at night. Follow my example, and don't take your safety for granted. Additionally, don't make another rookie mistake of mine. Dialing 511 from your cell phone does not work -- dial 911.

Obviously, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you, but don't wait until it actually does happen to you for the reality of this statement to sink in. Remember that West Philadelphia is not as safe as your hometown, and count on yourself for your own safety before you pass the buck to the Penn Police.

Cezary Podkul is a junior Management and Philosophy major in Wharton and the College from Chicago, Ill. Cezary Salad appears on Mondays.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.