Last week, the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) released news of two armed robberies carried out near campus. These incidents add to the increasing number of safety alerts - five in total since the start of the term - that have been sent out, raising concerns for student safety.
While the news of the robbery in Medford is certainly unpleasant to hear, most students have come to accept that parts of the town are unsafe at night. However, the Blakeley Hall robbery is more disturbing given its close proximity to the rest of campus and the details of an armed culprit managing to enter a student's room. These incidents once again confront students with the reality that campus is not exactly a safe haven where one can be completely carefree.
Despite the tireless work of TUPD in monitoring the area around Medford and Somerville, there is only so much that can be done. Locking doors, never propping them open and having a general awareness of one's surroundings (even if slightly inebriated) are precautions that should be second nature. It is worth mentioning that, despite the inevitability of crimes being committed close to campus, the entirety of TUPD works tirelessly to circulate important information and conduct thorough investigations. Contrary to what some may think, TUPD's intention is not solely to bust law-breaking students, but rather to protect them and ensure a safe campus.
With the semester now in full swing and students constantly on the move, often late at night, the chances of trouble happening naturally increase. Simple precautions - walking with friends, avoiding dodgy-looking areas - go without saying, but students often forget the services offered by Tufts to help protect us. As highlighted in today's article, "Two armed robberies reported near campus," the Tufts GoSafe service is available for use, and safety phones all over campus provide a means of receiving swift help if need be. Of course, it always helps when TUPD does not have to spend as much time helping us deal with lockouts or other such trivial issues that sidetrack them from the job at hand.
Given the excess of day-to-day concerns that occupy the average student's mind, it is easy to forget the basics of safe living. Incidents like the ones reported last week are certainly worth getting riled up about. While we all tend to overlook admittedly mundane safety details, the news of two robberies suggests that it might be time to pay attention to the information that is in place to protect us.
