Students might not be able to notice these safety precautions, but their strength lies in their inconspicuousness, Vautin says.

“They’re not seen because they are all in the background,” he says. “It’s just good management.”

The University hopes that students will give them reasonable feedback, Vautin says.

“Student interaction is very real and very important,” he says. “But adding more burden on everyone ultimately compounds anxiety.”

In spite of the trade-offs and debate involved in proper emergency management, administrators say they are working hard to improve this planning—even if it seems to proceed without student knowledge or input.

“There a lot of efforts to do what’s right, even though what’s right may be in the eye of the beholder,” Vautin says.

Riley says HUPD has confidence in Harvard.

“In my perspective, I think the College and University generally have their act together,” Riley says. “We don’t change levels based on what we read in newspapers, and we’re just as concerned about natural disasters as terrorist attacks.”

—Staff writer Hana R. Alberts can be reached at alberts@fas.harvard.edu.