Letters to the editor

A commitment to summer safety

To the Editor:

In its editorial ("Keep your guard up," SP, 5/18/06), The Summer Pennsylvanian supported its call for constant vigilance on the part of law enforcement with examples of violence stemming from arguments between persons. Because we don't want to see any crime in our area, regardless of its impetus, the Division of Public Safety remains on high alert twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

It was with vigilance and dedication that over the past five months we increased the UPPD force by 20%, doubled the size of the Allied security officer patrol, installed additional CCTV cameras and emergency phones, provided more than 4,000 walking escorts and 50 safety presentations to the community, added lighting both on and off campus and made more than 312 arrests. As a result, since January 1, 2006, robberies have decreased in our patrol area by 42% while remaining steady in other surrounding neighborhoods.

This summer, we are rapidly moving forward with additional lighting enhancements and crime fighting initiatives and will continue to work with our partners in the Philadelphia Police Department, University City District and all of you to enhance our shared safety and security.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of the walking and riding escorts, 898-WALK and 898-RIDE and contact the Division at 898-7297 if you have questions or would like additional safety information.

Maureen Rush

The author is the Vice President for Public Safety at Penn

Responding to 'irrational' views

To the Editor:

Biology professor Mike Kaplan makes some very bold statements in his letter to the editor regarding America's "deeply irrational" views ("Daulton's views," DP, 4/26/06). He cites, among other things, our "botched war on terror."

I'm not sure which war on terror Kaplan is referring to. Last time I checked, the Taliban was out of power in Afghanistan, a significant portion of al Qaeda's top leaders were dead or captured, and the United States had not suffered a major terrorist attack since the war on terror began.

I have personally worked with the City of Philadelphia's Emergency Preparedness Review Committee and will be working with the Department of Homeland Security this summer; I can tell you first hand that America is making progress in the war on terrorism at all levels.

There is certainly work to be done, but Kaplan's unsubstantiated claims make him guilty of the same irrational behavior that he claims to despise.

Scott Kahn

College junior

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