The Harvard Medical School is being plagued by a rash of crimes--robberies, muggings and murders. Both students and administration are taking steps to counter the rise in crime, especially in the area around Vanderbilt Hall on Avenue Louis Pasteur, in Roxbury.

Richard J. Olendski, associate dean for Student Affairs of the Harvard Medical School, said yesterday. "Members of the Subcommittee on Building Safety and Security have been addressing themselves to the issues."

News bulletins and articles relating to the crime issue were and are being published to keep students informed. The committee is compiling statistics on the crimes, printing bulletins on how to react if you are a victim of such a crime and issuing notices on how to protect yourself from such crimes.

The committee authorized additional police coverage of the Quad area--there will be three policemen in the day and evening shift instead of two.

The subcommittee on Medical Area Security, comprised of members of the administration. Harvard University Police and Boston police, proposed patrolling the streets on a "collective basis," but all the organizations have not yet agreed upon the proposal.

Sunday the students began circulating a petition calling for more obvious police protection and better lighting in the dormitory area.