HUPD Improves Campus Security

We are pleased to see that the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is taking constructive steps to improve campus security. The police are preparing to deploy officers on bicycles and are working to improve visibility on all shifts. The police have also established a substation in Weld Hall and have invited police officers and security guards to eat in the dining halls in order to establish better relationships with undergraduates.

These measures are especially necessary because many serious crimes have occurred on the Harvard campus this year. The string of break-ins in Matthews Hall and the attempted rape which occurred near Adams House recently have led many students to hold increased anxiety about their safety. Perhaps the HUPD could have responded to campus crime more quickly, but their program to decrease security risks deserves praise.

Increased foot patrols and the bike squad will improve police visibility, making it more difficult for thugs to prey on students. Officers on foot and on bikes will be able to patrol areas that cars cannot reach--helping the police to tighten the campus security net. A greater police presence will also lead most undergraduates to feel safer, especially after dar. Currently, walking home at night is a particular concern for many students.

The HUPD plans to expand foot patrols in the Yard and near the River Houses. However, we also urge the police to expand their increased level of protection to residents of the Quad. The walk from Harvard Square to the Quad, either on Garden Street or through the Cambridge Commons, is often a lonely trek.

The new police substaion in Weld Hall should help officers to monitor the Yard and improve their response times to emergency calls. For instance, last week when an intruder in Weld was reported to the police substation, it took officers too long to determine that he was lurking in fifth floor rooms. We hope the substation will have more on-duty officers. It was also designed to improve interaction between undergraduates and the police. Students have access to the substation 24 hours a day, and it also brings more officers and guards to the Yard.

Despite these efforts to decrease crime at Harvard, the HUPD cannot make attending the College risk-free. Students also share the responsibility of working to improve campus security. Students have acess to many different safety programs and organizations, such as H.A.S.T.E., the Harvard Alliance for Safety Training and Education, and the Rape Awareness Defense program. By working together, students and the HUPD can help to make Harvard a safer environment.