On Tues., Oct. 4th, an mass email went out to the bu community with the subject line: Message from the Dean of Students and the Chief of Police. In case you did not open it, the email containing a link to a composite sketch of one of the persons involved in a recent assault and a brief message about safety. This composite has been on the Cambridge Police website since Sept. 24th. The Cambridge Police Department’s Community alert revealed that the man is the sketch is believed to have been involved in 1, potentially 2 recent assaults. One of the assaults involved a silver or dark SUV, the other a white taxi cab. Both victims were abducted in Boston and taken to Cambridge where they were assaulted. On the BUPD web page www.bu.edu/police, there are also three other assaults mentioned briefly and two other composite sketches in addition to the incident cited in the link sent out in the mass email. In addition to the composite sketches and reports of recent incidents, the BUPD web page has also added a link to the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry, a listing of known sex offenders in Massachusetts and their photos, addresses, and charges against them where available. As this information was not available on the BUPD web page previously, it is important that students are aware that it is there and take the time to read the information available. Local newspapers and on local news programs are also sources through which students can inform themselves about events that affect their safety. We go to school on an urban campus with the dangers of a major metropolitan city. It is imperative for students to be fully informed of incidents that occur so that they can take extra precautions to help ensure their safety.

Helen Lowery [email protected] CAS May 2006 (562)756-6552