TULANE TALK

November 10, 2006

Good Morning:

Recently I have received a few e-mails regarding crime in New Orleans, especially near our campus. This increased awareness and concern can be attributed to several factors, including our new policy of directly e-mailing every student as soon as a crime that poses a continued threat is reported near campus.

While resulting in the positive outcome of increasing crime awareness and reporting, this new policy has given the impression that off-campus crime is on the rise. Actually, data collected by our Office of Public Safety reveals that this is not the case.

Still, crime prevention is, and always has been, a pressing concern for us. There is no single issue more important than the safety of our students, faculty and staff. Thatís why our university police department patrols campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and also coordinates with the New Orleans police department to patrol the streets around campus.

We have taken a number of other actions to increase safety awareness and crime prevention. For example, we provide free shuttle service for all Tulane community members and on Nov. 16 we will begin a Safe Ride program that will transport students from off-campus locations to their on- or off-campus residence. The Safe Ride program will operate Thursday through Sunday evenings from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The boundaries of the Safe Ride program are between Claiborne Avenue and the river and between Leonidas Street and Napoleon Avenue.

In addition to these services, campus sidewalks are lined with 36 blue-light emergency phones and officers are available 24 hours a day to escort students, faculty or staff to their cars and to offer on-campus minor road service such as assisting with locked keys in the car or a dead battery.

Our student orientation includes crime prevention sessions and the distribution of the ìKeeping Tulane Secureî newsletter and the ìSafe Spaceî guidebook that offers tips on personal security. These orientation efforts are supplemented by programs throughout the year on basic self-defense, areas in the city to avoid, Rape Aggression Defense classes, ìGet Carded Dayî in which thousands of cards with emergency numbers are distributed and other outreach efforts that reinforce the information students receive at orientation.

We make crime alerts available to all students, faculty and staff via e-mail and the http site of our Office of Public Safety provides information on crime statistics and crime-fighting measures such as the Silent Witness program.

The safety of our community is our highest priority. Like every university located in an urban area, Tulane must deal with the realities of crime. However, if we dedicate ourselves to vigilance, awareness and open communication with one another and law enforcement officials, I know we can all keep safe while enjoying one of the worldís greatest cities. Tulane will continue to do whatever is in its power to create a safe environment for every member of its community.

Have a great and safe weekend,