The sense in security

With submachine guns pointed at her face, Star Simpson became the center of a short-lived media frenzy that thrived on the public's sense of security. Police forces were swift, and for a few minutes, the bomb scare seemed legitimate at Logan International Airport. Though it was determined there was no real threat, the reaction from the authorities showed everything was in place to react properly if a bomb had in fact been strapped to the MIT sophomore's chest.

Though travelers at Logan were safe, it appeared they were in grave danger for a short period of time. Conversely, at Boston University last week, the administration orchestrated safety demonstrations to create an appearance of safety awareness while students learned only in the pages of this newspaper of injuries sustained by bicyclists and pedestrians on the campus's main traffic artery.

At least five people were hit by cars on Commonwealth Avenue during the school's Safety Week, an effort among many departments to encourage safe travel, among other things. Though many volunteers clad in neon shirts distributed safety pamphlets to pedestrians, the university cannot ensure the personal safety of every student crossing the street. In the very least, our editorial page advocated for a stronger police presence on the busy road that splits this campus.

But students will not doubt the university's commitment to safety after its response to a reported sexual assault in a Warren Towers bathroom. The day a female visitor to Warren reported she was attacked on the 16th floor of Shields Tower, top administrators across BU lined up in Warren's Cinema Room to address worried and shaken residents, many of whom are just weeks into their first year at BU.

If the words of Thomas Robbins, the BU Police Department chief, are any indication of the days and possibly weeks to come in this investigation, there will likely be a heightened sense of security across campus. Such a scarring incident shakes the lives of the thousands of people who walk the sidewalks of this campus every day.

But the alleged assault raises many important questions: Was the attacker a Warren resident, a BU student or a visitor as well? How will the school respond to any of those cases? Is dorm security still too strict, or is it now too lax? Will the administration connect this to the new Guest Policy?

And perhaps most importantly: Will this be the last time?

The administration is taking this case as seriously as it can, and students should as well. Anyone with information about the suspect should come forward to the BUPD.

As details unfold, The Daily Free Press promises to print the most important and relevant stories from all sides.

Thank you for reading.

Matt Negrin Editor-in-Chief

Jason Millman Managing Editor