College Shorts - 1/14/10

Crime rates go up during holidays at U. Penn

Members of the University of Pennsylvania police force reported a spike in violent crimes over a three day period in late December.

Two robberies, an assault and a purse snatching occurred between December 15-17. In each of the instances, the victim was walking alone, late at night, on campus.

The police believe the perpetrators were different in each of the cases, but see similarities.

“Even though they’re different criminals, their M.O.s are the same,” said Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.

Students were urged to remain vigilant while walking late at night and to refrain from talking on the phone or listening to music late in the evening.

— The Daily Pennsylvanian

Offensive dorm graffiti inspires campus action

Students and other members of the Williams College community occupied a building on campus to draw attention to homophobic graffiti found in another dormitory.

In response to a November 30 incident, in which an offensive word and drawings on penises were found written in paint on the wall of a common room, students organized an open sit-in of Hardy Hall.

Students hope to help create the college’s goal of an open and supportive community. They feel that homosexual issues are not often discussed and students cannot currently find the support structures they need.

The efforts have already seen substantial effects.

“Not only does this building feel like a home now more than it ever has, but I feel more at home on this campus than I ever have before,” said Chelsea Luttrell ’11

— The Williams Record

MIT ponders 7 percent enrollment increase

Administrators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are considering whether to return the student body to its 1980s and 1990s size by increasing student enrollment by up to 7 percent.

The decision hinges largely on whether the school could find enough student housing to accommodate the increase. There is currently a dormitory under renovation that could provide the necessary space.

Dean of Admission Stuart Schmill said the move was not motivated by financial needs at the University.

“It’s not driven by the revenue piece,” Mr. Schmill said. “It’s really bringing us back to an undergraduate enrollment we had.”

If accepted, the school would look to boost admission through increased first-year admittances and a higher rate of transfer student admissions.

— The New York Times