Article Tags

“campus safety alert”

Black bear cub! From bear.org!

Black bear cub! From "bear.org!"

After three years at Princeton, I’ve come to associate Campus Safety Alerts with two things: toy guns (Three, yes, three times) and campus creepers. I’ve never really been happy to see Donald P. Reichling’s name pop up in my inbox, you know? Which I know might seem too much to ask from Public Safety, but sometimes don’t you just want to be surprised, and not in a trench coat on the tow path way?

I mean, I guess that was what Vivienne was getting at last month, when she compared Public Safety’s crime prevention tips to a list of Mountain Lion Safety Tips. Too much public indecency, not enough mountain lions.

Today, Public Safety surprised me. No, Public Safety delighted me. I opened Donald P. Reichling’s email as I always do, with a sad sigh and a sideways glance at the drawer where I stuffed the pepper spray my parents bought me before freshman year (Yeah, it’s pink, get it? Because I’m a girl.) And then I smiled.

Because, Vivienne, it happened. Roaming the streets of Princeton is a black bear.

Continue reading…

Spotted: The next Christopher Walken look-alike lurker.

Spotted: The next Christopher Walken lookalike lurker.

Is it just me, or is Princeton the campus of choice for strange lurers and public wankers?

From today’s Campus Safety Alert:

A graduate student reported late last evening that a man exposed himself while she was running on the tow path between Harrison Street and Washington Road at about 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Maybe we’re the only school that takes public indecency as a serious campus-wide safety threat. But here’s something else I noticed about the “crime prevention tips” section of Public Safety’s emails (thanks LW ‘14):

  • When running in isolated areas, run with a friend.
  • Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings. Be aware and prepared.
  • Stand tall and walk confidently; do not show fear.
  • Trust your instincts, and if you do not feel comfortable in a place or situation, leave.

Wait, are we dealing with flashers or mountain lions? (Seriously, compare the list of Mountain Lion Safety Tips to Public Safety’s. The resemblance is uncanny.)

Some additional safety tips substituting the word “cougar” with “creeper” after the jump.

Continue reading…

The Princeton community has received two Campus Safety Alerts from Public Safety since yesterday morning about reports of lewdness and sexual contact. The first report is, well, hilarious. But the second incident, not so much.

The first incident:

In separate incidents at approximately 2 and 2:39 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009, two Princeton University female students reported a male was masturbating and exposed his genital area to them while they were walking alone across campus. The first incident took place as the victim was walking on McCosh Walk toward the University Store and the suspect was on the steps between Buyers and Witherspoon halls. The victim said she also saw the suspect earlier in the evening near 1879 Hall and the School of Architecture, where he was masturbating as he walked behind her. The second victim reported that she saw the suspect near the first entry of 1879 Hall, where he exposed himself. The victim said the suspect ran toward Washington Road toward Nassau Street. The suspect did not come into direct contact with either victim.

Continue reading…