Crime isn't return to past

Tragedy struck Philly Diner early Christmas morning.

William Hurt, a 25-year-old resident of Upper Darby, Pa., was shot and killed at about 3 a.m. With a rise in crime still fresh in Penn's memory, it may seem as though things have taken a turn for the worse.

But worried students and faculty should remember that crime can never fully disappear from urban -- or even suburban -- areas, and its existence is more than balanced by the benefits inherent in the ability to live, learn and teach in a vibrant Philadelphia neighborhood.

The recent incidents -- though disconcerting -- do not reflect a return to the mid-1990s, when crime rates reached new highs in University City. Since the murder of Vladimir Sled in 1996, the University has taken major steps to improve the campus and surrounding community in the last decade.

Due in large part to these efforts, crime in and around campus has plummeted by about 50 percent in the last 10 years.

With 101 police officers and a $24 million safety budget, coupled with neighborhood revitalization efforts, Penn is working hard to make the community safe.

Incidents like Hurt's murder will likely never disappear -- and to the Penn Police's credit, they could have done little to stop it.

Yet University officials and Penn Police should keep in mind that while University City has greatly improved, it still has a long way to go. And students should not let a seemingly isolated incident stop them from visiting a popular campus eatery or walking the streets.

Remember to look on the bright side and to understand how far we have come.

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