Safety a common concern

By Jenna Russell and Marcella Bombardieri, 3/14/2004

A series of assaults against Harvard students during the fall and winter spooked the campus and led the university to adopt new safety measures, including an escort service to walk students home late at night, a 24-hour shuttle service, and a coordinated system to notify the campus when an attack occurs. But Undergraduate Council president Matthew Mahan said Harvard has dropped the ball when it comes to safety measures on Cambridge Common, where a few of the attacks have occurred. The Common is owned by the city but is frequently traveled by students who live in the Quad. "The whole tone has been telling us all the reasons it won't work," said Mahan. Taking matters into his own hands, he asked Mayor Michael A. Sullivan to install emergency phones ($4,000 each) on the Common if Harvard would pay. Sullivan, who already plans to increase lighting on the common, said, "Why not?" Harvard hasn't decided whether to pony up. Safety Committee chairwoman Judith H. Kidd responded to a call from the Globe with a written statement: "Harvard will certainly work with the City of Cambridge and student leaders as we look at this issue."
 

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