Updates Regarding Campus Safety

Dear Vassar Community,

In the wake of the burglary that took place in the Town Houses last week, I am writing to update you on several measures that are being taken to help ensure safety for all on campus, as well as a series of community discussions on the topic.

Our Facilities Operations team has begun immediate work on physical improvements that can be made on campus. The first of these is improved lighting, for which we have developed a three-phase plan:

• Members of Safety & Security and Facilities are identifying locations on campus where additional temporary lighting, especially wall packs, can be put up in the immediate term.
• Residential Life and Facilities are also making final decisions on placement of dark sky compliant lighting fixtures at the Town Houses. We are using improved temporary lighting for the time until these fixtures can be ordered, delivered, and installed.
• We will conduct a study to determine a long-term strategy around lighting campus-wide.

Our Dean of the College area is hosting listening sessions - informal opportunities for students as well as for administrators and staff to discuss and debrief the recent burglary. The next one is for students on Tuesday Nov. 12 from 6 pm to 7 pm in the Jade Parlor. Administrators and staff interested in the following session please email Senior Associate Dean of the College for Professional Development, edpittman@vassar.edu. These conversations and your thoughts about these events are important in order to create space to listen and support one another.

Thanks and have a good weekend,

Elizabeth H. Bradley, President
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
@EHBVassar