My son Alan is away at college. So I can tell you that campus safety is something I think about daily. I know that you and your parents have similar concerns.
You may have read in the January 17 issue of The Polytechnic about several problems that occurred last semester. Those and some recent incidents, and my ongoing concern for safety, prompt me to write this column to enlist the help of everyone in keeping our campus as safe as possible.
I can assure you that the safety of the members of the Rensselaer community is the highest priority of my administration. Nothing is more important to me.
We are increasing our patrols, and we are working closely with the Troy Police Department in investigating all reported incidents, but I must emphasize that I need your help.
I am alarmed by the fact that far too often incidents of crime and suspicious behavior are never reported to our Office of Public Safety, are reported late, or are reported by victims who refuse to file a complaint. Yet prompt and thorough reporting is essential if we are to enhance campus safety.
If you are victimized in any way, if you observe what could be a crime, if you see suspicious persons or behavior, call Public Safety immediately at 276-6611. Don’t wait. Don’t second-guess yourself. Don’t be afraid. Delay greatly lessens our ability to stop a crime or apprehend a criminal.
Remember, we have an open campus in a highly populated urban area. Caution and common sense are always necessary.
Do not prop doors open. Do not disable card-access devices. Do not admit persons who do not live in your building. Keep your rooms locked.
We have 63 emergency phones, each topped with a blue light, located strategically all across our campus for your safety. Those phones instantly put you in touch with the Office of Public Safety any time, day or night. If you cannot stay at the phone, the simple pressing of the button will quickly bring officers to that location.
We have an excellent personal escort service that makes it unnecessary for you to walk across campus alone at night. Just call 276-6656 and someone will escort you.
To further ensure your safety, I have walked around our campus at night and personally noted areas where lighting, pavements, access to emergency phones, and other safety features should be improved. Under the leadership of Ted Mirczak ’66, acting vice president for administration, that work was completed quickly.
These walks will continue. Institute personnel will periodically crisscross our campus at night to determine firsthand where improvements are needed. I will join in these walks from time to time.
Familiarize yourself with ways to prevent assault and other crimes. Our Department of Public Safety has made extensive information available at http://www.dps.rpi.edu/. That information also includes tips for off-campus safety.
If you find conditions that pose a safety risk—such as damaged lighting, a broken emergency phone, a missing fire extinguisher—call the maintenance desk at 276-2000 or e-mail fixx@rpi.edu.
All matters related to personal and life safety are handled immediately by Public Safety and by our maintenance personnel. If you find this not to be the case, please contact my chief of staff, Dr. Cynthia McIntyre, at 276-6246.
I assure you that we will do all in our power to keep you safe. Please help us to do that.
