Harold D. Craft Jr., Cornell University vice president for facilities and campus services, issued a statement today (Nov. 24, 1998) concerning the review of several security issues on the Cornell campus:

"The safety and security of members of the Cornell community have been and are high priorities for the university administration. Over the last several years we have made many security enhancements, but there still remain additional projects that we need to consider and implement.

"Last week, students from Ujamaa, Akwe:kon and the Latino Living Center brought to our attention a number of suggestions concerning improved lighting, transportation and emergency telephone services. These recommendations are now under active review by my staff and the Campus Life staff that reports to Susan H. Murphy, vice president for student and academic services.

"In response to these student suggestions, several modifications have already been made, including replacing part of a lighting fixture for the exterior stairwell of Akwe:kon facing Jessup fields and increasing the wattage of lighting on the Helen Newman side of Ujamaa.

"In addition, as a further step, we urge any member of the Cornell community, whether faculty, students or staff, who either is the subject of harassing behavior or has knowledge of such activities to contact the Cornell Police immediately at 255-1111. The officers on duty have been given special instructions to handle such information expeditiously and thoroughly. We urge the campus community to use this 'hot line' phone number, because it is already well-known and easy to remember.

"We will provide a further update on this subject next week, after the Thanksgiving holiday."