On Monday, a horrible crime shook our campus. Our hearts go out to the victim, the female Penn student who was sexually assaulted in her home at 40th and Spruce streets.
Sadly, the tragedy only added to the litany of recent crimes in the area surrounding Penn's campus, including the shooting at Koko Bongo just a few weeks ago.
It is a growing sentiment on campus that Penn students are scared to live in West Philadelphia.
Such fears are only exacerbated by a president that has failed to communicate effectively with the Penn community regarding crime and student safety. Monday's events were a prime example of how the administration's unwillingess to directly address safety concerns can promulgate confusion campus-wide.
Monday evening, DPS did send a timely alert to the entire Penn community about the sexual assault. Meanwhile, a misleading e-mail about the AlliedBarton indecent exposure incident circulated around campus causing students to confuse the two issues.
Students, faculty and staff were left in a state of confusion until articles published in Tuesday's Daily Pennsylvanian addressed the matter.
No clarifying e-mails concerning the assault and AlliedBarton guard have been sent - not to students, or parents, who also, of course, have a vested interest in arriving at clarity.
Even if DPS had sent out a clarification, the gravity of the situation demands that high-level administrators publicly and directly address what took place. Neither President Gutmann nor Provost Daniels has issued a statement about this rare and tragic crime.
Crime is clearly a priority for Penn. The resources Penn affords DPS and AlliedBarton make that abundantly clear. It is the administration's duty to recognize what occurred, delineate the actions it is initiating in response, and help students take the necessary precautions.
DPS may be charged with protecting Penn students, but it is President Gutmann's duty to address the community's concerns at the highest level.
We're still waiting.
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