New FDO Security Program Will Stress Crime Prevention

The Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) will institute a program next fall to educate incoming freshmen about crime and student safety at Harvard.

Henry C. Moses, dean of freshmen, said the program will train groups of interested sophomores to make presentations to members of the fresman class at the beginning of each school year. The presentations will aim at making students more aware that there is a crime problem in Cambridge and explain safety measures.

Students concerned with security issues at Harvard praised the FDO program and Moses for his efforts to raise awareness of security problems at Harvard.

SOS

Elizabeth M. Einaudi '83, a founder of Students Organized for Security (SOS), said the group is "proud of the job the FDO has done in keeping freshmen aware of attacks on students.

"It's most important that students understand Cambridge is not just another playground, "Einaudi said. "The program is really important and I would like to extend it to other classes as well," she added.

Moses said the program is designed to make the enire Harvard community more safety-conscious by impressing upon students the need for precautions when they arrive as freshmen.

One student involved in security issues, who asked to remain anonymous, praised the program but said it should go beyond simply raising student awareness. "By not choosing a policy of improving physical security measures such as a better escort service or a hotline, the University is continuing its policy of shifting responsibility for safety on to students and denying its responsibility to protect us," the student said.

Counsel

Members of SOS said they were concerned that Moses had not consulted more closely with student security groups.

Saul L. Chafin, chief of University police will help organize the training of the students making presentations to freshmen next fall. "I'm very happy to see the University take the initiative in educating students as to their environs," he said.

The program will be orgainzed over the summer by a committee composed of Moses, Chafin, Burriss Young, associate dean of Freshmen, and two students.