Student meeting with administrative members held after violent on-campus incident
Fixing residence hall doors, improving communication: students voiced concerns regarding on-campus safety
An Allegheny College student was assaulted by an armed man in Ravine-Narvik Hall at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, according to the Meadville Tribune. The identity of the man is currently unknown, and the city police are actively investigating the case, Meadville Police Chief Michael Tautin told the Tribune.
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, students met in the Henderson Campus Center to voice questions and concerns regarding the violent incident, which has been listed as a rape on Allegheny’s daily crime log. Multiple members of Allegheny’s administration, including President Hilary Link and Dean of Students April Thompson, were present.
Link opened the forum with a statement. She confirmed that the incident is currently being investigated and that student safety is of utmost importance. She also said that public safety presence around campus will be drastically increased, and additional measures, such as bringing additional security personnel to campus, will be taken.
The forum opened to students for questions and comments, and various concerns were voiced. One concern was regarding the information included in the original campus-wide email sent around 5 a.m. on Tuesday — some students thought it was too vague, and others expressed concern with specific pieces of information that were and were not shared.
The email said the Office of Public Safety was alerted about the incident at 3:30 a.m. It said the student was assaulted in their room in Ravine, and a description of the assailant was provided. Personal safety reminders, such as encouraging the use of campus blue light phones, contacting public safety to report suspicious persons and keeping doors locked at all times were also included on the email.
Another prevalent concern was the safety of residence hall doors. After multiple students said their doors don’t lock properly, were broken or regularly propped open, Dean of Students April Thompson said the matter is a top priority. Students emphasized the importance of alerting resident advisers to put in work orders for broken doors.
Additional concerns included the lack of a text message alert to students, potential changes or flexibility to finals schedules and the improvement of lighting around campus.
Link sent an additional email to Allegheny students at 10:26 p.m. on Tuesday.
The email said that since the incident, Link and her leadership team have increased 24/7 patrols, begun addressing issues with doors around campus, checked in with residents of Ravine to assure their safety and wellbeing, and communicated available resources to students with the student, parent and employee community.
“My team and I are devastated by what happened,” the email read. “We have been working throughout the day, focusing our work in three areas: To be there for our student and her family and friends. To support everyone in our community who has been affected. And to do everything we can to support efforts to apprehend the attacker.”
Matthew Steinberg is a senior majoring in communication arts and double minoring in journalism in the public interest and Spanish. This year, he serves...
Al Coppolo • Dec 15, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Let me agree with some of your suppositions. There are reasons to be optimistic about the new leadership of the Board and College. Changes are taking place and more are likely on the way. All I am suggesting is, don’t throw your “Treasured Alma Mater” under the bus just yet. It will be a shame if the new team is unsuccessful simply because of our frustration with the past.
Upset • Dec 14, 2019 at 3:19 pm
I consider what students have dealt with in the past 5+ years more than shortfalls. I feel like the entire culture of the place completely changed and I don’t know why or how. Is it the new Dean of Admissions? The old Dean of Students? The recently retired President? A little of each? It’s just not forgivable some of the terrible things that have taken place on campus, by students, with little to no ramifications or changes.
Al Coppolo • Dec 13, 2019 at 7:14 pm
There is no question, the eye was taken off the ball in the last few years by the previous leadership of the board and college. This is changing. The roots of the college are very strong and the new leadership has the vision and the urgency to turn this around. The college needs our support to make these changes successful. This is no time to dwell on the shortfalls of the past. Give Missy and Hilary a chance.
Upset Alum • Dec 13, 2019 at 6:05 pm
From everything I have observed Allegheny should be ashamed at the lack of concern, care, and proper security measures in the last several years. I would never recommend anyone going to my once treasured alma mater. The administration doesn’t seem to care about the wellbeing of students, it’s all politics and the students suffer after being tremendously overcharged.
Al Coppolo • Dec 12, 2019 at 2:33 pm
The hearts and prayers of alumni are with the student, parents, and Allegheny Community affected by this tragic event. It cuts at the roots of everything that makes Allegheny what it is.
Time will heal what can be mended, but a scar will persist. Let this awaken in all of us the need to do whatever and everything that is necessary and possible to ensure the safety, security, and peace of mind of the Allegheny students who are entrusted to our care. If we cannot take for granted the protection of these young people, then no other effort matters.
Al Coppolo ‘78
James Joyce • Dec 11, 2019 at 12:30 pm
They have one security camera on campus … they need to install more cameras … modern day security is done with electronic surveillance … this should happen quickly.