[92] in peace2
McCormick Alert
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (F. AuYeung)
Wed Feb 23 13:03:53 2000
Message-Id: <200002231803.NAA09990@m12-182-18.mit.edu>
To: peace-list@MIT.EDU, peace-women@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 13:03:26 -0500
From: "F. AuYeung" <auyeung@MIT.EDU>
------- Forwarded Message
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:37:52 -0500
To: me-grads@mit.edu
From: Cheryl deJong-Vossmer <crimbite@MIT.EDU>
(by way of Leslie Regan <lregan@mit.edu>)
Subject: Bulletin
Information Bulletin
Issued: February 23, 2000
Please be advised that on Monday, February 21st. at approximately 7:00
PM, there was a report of an assault, which occurred in McCormick. The victim
reports that while in her room she was grabbed from behind and pulled towards
the closet and door. The victim is unable to give any physical description of
the suspect.
There were two residents of McCormick who stated they observed two
separate suspicious males in the building at the approximate time of the
incident. The witnesses describe the suspicious persons as follows: 1) male,
white, 'older', of a small to medium build, well dressed, maybe even wearing a
suit, dark short hair, who exited the elevator on an upper floor. 2) male,
white, older, short and pudgy like a beer belly, and carrying a 2-liter bottle
of root beer, also appeared weird or stoned.
The MIT Police Crime Prevention Unit recommends the following crime
prevention tips:
* As you enter a dorm be sure that no one unknown to you enters behind
you. If they do be sure to advise the desk person to check their
identification.
* It is imperative for everyone to call and report suspicious
individuals. Call the MIT Police at "100" or 3-1212 and provide a
detailed description of the individual. Neither of the above
described suspicious persons were called into the MIT Police,
although the witness mentioned the suspicious person seemed out of
place.
* You are advised to keep your door closed and locked at all times -
especially while you are asleep in your room. If you don't feel
comfortable entering your room alone, contact the Campus Police and
we will be happy to assist you.
* The MIT Campus Police Special Services Division is investigation
these crimes. Anyone with information is asked to please call Det.
Sgt. Mary Beth Riley at x3-6875 or x3-1212. If you wish to provide
us with information anonymously please use our web site at
<http://web.mit.edu/cp/www/invest/anon.html>.
MIT Police Department
W31-215 x3-1212
Cheryl deJong Vossmer Phone: (617) 253-9755
Sergeant, Crime Prevention Unit Fax: (617) 253-8822
MIT Police <http://web.mit.edu/cp/www/>
77 Massachusetts Ave., W31-215
Cambridge, MA 02139
------- End of Forwarded Message
I think the response of reporting anyone suspicious is certainly useful and
ought to be followed through, but unfortunately it also has a side effect of
creating paranoia and fear, which people should not have to live with. Self
defense in this case would have been useful as well, but again, this is a
dorm and one shouldn't have to think about beating up the next guy who might
harass you at your home.
Are there alternatives to these? Can we demand better entry systems, paid
staff at the desk, more frequent police patrols, among other options?
Although I agree with this alert, I also feel that the police is not taking
an active role in curbing these incidences, but placing the responsibility
on the students to take care of themselves. I particularly have problems
with closed and locked doors at all times part: I don't want to have to call
the police when I feel uncomfortable entering my own room--- I don't want to
feel uncomfortable around my home period.
Maybe this is an isolated incident? Can we get people talking about the
issue of how students feel about dorm safety at the International Women's
Day evening, and even on the women list? And talk about what we can do
about it too.
Felix
