TULANE TALK

January 20, 2012

Good Morning:

Last week, I promised to outline the steps we are taking to enhance the safety of Tulane students, faculty and staff – especially in the streets around campus.

These steps, which we shared in a separate letter to students and parents last week, include more patrols on the streets around campus, an enhanced Safe Rides program, more police available to escort students who do not feel safe, increased alerts about crimes in the university area and more late-night student activities on campus.

In addition, I, along with Tulane’s new Police Superintendent Jon Barnwell and other senior university leaders, met with Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas and several other members of the mayor’s leadership team this week to discuss crime and safety in the university area.

I also discussed these issues with Rev. Kevin Wildes, president of Loyola University. These meetings will result in better coordination of efforts in combating crime and improving safety in our campus neighborhoods. As we all know, these issues are part of a larger city-wide set of challenges, the scope of which is far beyond the jurisdiction or capability of our campus police department.

In addition to the steps listed above, we all need to continue to be vigilant protectors of our own safety, remembering to lock our doors, secure our personal property, stay alert and aware of our surroundings, avoid secluded areas and take advantage of Safe Rides, police escorts and other services provided by the university.

We also need to watch out for one another and remember that safety is a shared responsibility that requires everyone’s attention. Please be assured that the protection of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our top priority and focus.