Harvard Police Issue Advisory on Assaults in Area

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) issued an advisory Monday warning of a number of indecent assault and batteries in the Harvard vicinity.

According to the advisory, several incidents have been reported to the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) on Museum St., Prescott St., Trowbridge St., Broadway and Harvard St. in the late afternoon and early evening.

An indecent assault is defined as the exposing of oneself or the touching of other people inappropriately.

The advisory described the perpetrator as a black male, 20 to 30 years old, 5'6 to 5'8", 140 to 150 pounds and wearing a baseball cap, blue jeans, a red and white windbreaker and a green backpack.

All of the victims have been females between the ages of 25 and 30, said HUPD spokesperson Peggy A. McNamara. She declined to comment on whether the victims were Harvard students.

McNamara said HUPD decides to put out advisories based on the proximity of the crimes to Harvard and the degree of danger to students.

"In these circumstances where we see an increase of these unfortunate incidents, we work with the Cambridge Police Department to create the advisories," she said.

CPD spokesperson Frank T. Pasquarello said that police are taking steps beyond the advisory to prevent future crimes.

"We've increased our patrol, both in uniform and plainclothes officers," he said.

McNamara cautioned students not to walk alone at night and recommended use of the University escort service if possible.

"If you feel uncomfortable with your surroundings, run to the nearest Harvard building. Walk strong and walk steady and you're less likely to be approached," she said.

These incidents come less than two weeks after a graduate student was robbed near the Divinity School, prompting an earlier HUPD advisory.

Distributing the Warning

In both cases, HUPD sent the advisory out via an e-mail distribution list. Because the Faculty of Arts and Sciences does not allow for mass e-mails, advisories are sent to about 100 people responsible for forwarding the information to their students. Recipients include senior tutors and the Freshman Dean's Office.

Currently, HUPD is trying to identify whether gaps exist in their notification system.

Even with thee combined efforts of HUPD and senior tutors' offices, many students say they are unaware of the recent crimes and subsequent advisories.

Caroline L. Kung '00 of Quincy House said she had not heard anything about either.

"Students need to be aware of an escalation in crime. I find it a little frightening and disappointing," she said.

The various senior tutors' offices have handled the advisories in different ways

Susan P. Bourneuf, assistant to the senior tutor at Cabot House, posted notice on one bulleting board and said she plans to put the advisory in a future House newsletter.

In Leverett House, Catherine M. Fasbender, assistant to the senior tutor, posted it by all of the entrances.

"It's impossible not to see it," Fasbender said.

Even when students do learn of the advisories, however some say the warning are not always particularly useful.

"It's not like these advisories expose anything new. You just have to know where you should and shouldn't be," said Michael D. Cho '02