Hall and Stevens both say that the pilot project has proven that electronic security systems can be successful, especially in Houses like Eliot and Lowell where central access is through a main courtyard entry.

Earlier this year Tonis's force of 75 uniformed and armed University Police was bolstered by the addition of a 15-man student security patrol, equipped with two-way radios. Hall said that the force was so successful in helping University Police spot crimes, small fires and other problems around Harvard that it was increased to 40 students. The students, who are paid a wage above $3 an hour to work shifts from 12 midnight to 8 a.m., are instructed to call the police on their radios if they spot any suspicious persons or anything that seems out of the ordinary. In May a member of the student security patrol saw someone carrying things from a dorm and contacted police. As a result a local youth was arrested and several hundred dollars' worth of stereo equipment was recovered.

WITH ALL of the money and brain power spent on tightening security in the University, most House Masters and students still agree that the best prevention must come from increased awareness and vigilance by the members of the University community. Stevens says that one of the biggest effects Eliot's new electronic security has had on crime prevention is that it constantly reminds residents that they should be "on the lookout" for crime. More and more students admit to feeling "jittery" about the thefts and assaults which have been taking place around them and as a result are far more willing to question strangers and take care to lock doors, cars and bikes. White's assailants were captured even before police knew that White had been robbed because Randy Nixon '74 had called the police earlier when the youths tried to force their way into his room, also looking for "John Simmons."

Hall and University Police Sergeant George Hill both believe that if students and employees of the University were to tighten their easy-going "it won't happen to me" attitudes toward crime, it could be drastically reduced.

"Administrators and other employees are as guilty--or even more guilty--of laxness as the students," Hall says. "The thefts in administrative buildings have grown faster than in residential areas."

Last January the University Police began for the first time to publish weekly tabulations of thefts, assaults and other reported crimes throughout the University. They now send the report to over a hundred departments, officials and organizations in an effort to inform them of crime in the community. Eventually, the police hope to chart crime rates for successive years and comparable weeks during the years.

Another problem which Hall and other University crime fighters bring up is the failure of many of those robbed and assaulted to press charges after police capture suspects. Since a large number of the suspects are teenagers, most people are reluctant to "get them into trouble." However, Hall says that many of these "youngsters" are not just good kids off on a one time fling. "We're dealing with some pretty hardened juvenile delinquents, a lot of them carrying knives and guns. They're not naive youngsters and we're not going to help them by letting them off easy."

Even in cases where adults are involved, many victims decide not to press charges. Earlier this year a woman was approached by a man about 40 years old on the Widener steps. She refused his offer for a "good time" and he struck her in the face. Three University Police were called to the scene and arrested the man. When the woman said that she wanted to press charges, the man broke away from the police and struck her in the face again. After a struggle in which all three of the policemen suffered at least minor bruises, the man was brought to the station. Again he began to struggle and when the police tried to subdue him, the woman decided that she didn't want to press charges.

ALTHOUGH THE electronic security system has been successful in Eliot House and may be made available to other Houses in the future, it might not be as efficient in Houses like Adams that have many different street entrances. Currier House is the only one of all the Houses that was built specifically with security in mind. The one entrance to the House is guarded by students or watchmen 24 hours a day.

Bicycle and automobile thefts continue to rise at phenomenal rates, although no exact figures can possibly be obtained. At least 56 cars were reported stolen last year and the number of bicycle thefts probably has hit a large chunk of the student body. Many students have had two and three bikes stolen from them, no matter what type of chain, lock or storage place they have used.

That the total theft has levelled at about $1200 to $1500 per week should not be a comforting thought to anyone, but at least the rapid increase which has characterized the last few years has subsided for now. Still, the number of armed robberies and assaults has risen at an alarming rate and should serve notice that the new steps towards tighter security this year may be augmented with even further ones. As Eliot's Master Heimert said last February: "There used to be a trade-off between security and the robberies. But when we start considering armed attacks and personal safety there is no longer any trade-off."

Many new plans are now being made or have been suggested to break the back of the crime wave and protect Harvard students and personnel from violent crimes. Some would cost the University money and others would require the cooperation and support of the people in the University.

THE PROGRAM which will have the most significance on the University budget is a $2.2 million automation plan which Harvard is undertaking. Alarms, electronic security doors similar to Eliot's, closed circuit television for security areas and other types of automated security will all be centralized by a network of computer cables running through the steam tunnels which connect University buildings.

Eventually, Hall says that he would like to see all entrances to residences guarded by coded-card security doors. When Harvard finds a company that can make magnetically coded bursar's cards so that students don't have to carry two cards, this system will be more feasible.

Naturally, any mention of automation in the electronics field immediately arouses suspicions about snooping and invasions of privacy. Already, local opposition to Harvard's installation of electronic cables in its steam tunnels has begun. People Against National Identity Cards (PANIC) led the opposition last month. The group convinced the City Council to ask Harvard to stop laying the cables at least temporarily so a hearing can be held.

The plans for the new freshman dorm, the Pusey Library and other planned construction for Harvard's future have been at least partially dictated by concern for increased security within the University. There is little doubt that all of the future planning for additions or renovations to the Harvard campus will be done with a heavy emphasis on security considerations.

Finally, the inevitable solution of increased manpower always comes up. Harvard will almost assuredly continue to increase the size of its police force in coming years and probably will continue to fund more student watchmen. Although Hall thinks that a larger police force could vastly reduce crime at Harvard, he is aware that such an increase, like automation, would bring howls of protest. Many students feel that increased numbers of police on campus would be a threat to their "enjoying" themselves and would lead to increased efforts to interfere with their private affairs.

"I'd like to have our policemen be like trees and only be there when the students need them," Hall says. "Hell, I don't care what the students do. If they want to smoke dope or something I just want them to be able to do it without some guy coming to their door with a gun."