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A new public safety review and outreach initiative launches
Outside picture of Penn campus with people walking and sitting on a bench

A new public safety review and outreach initiative launches

Penn launches a public safety review and outreach initiative that seeks to conduct a comprehensive review and outreach program to assess Penn’s success in creating a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Dee Patel

Despite recent break-ins, Temple says thefts down 30% compared to last year

Despite recent break-ins, Temple says thefts down 30% compared to last year

During the pandemic, Penn Police are patrolling the exteriors of off-campus student housing. “We are not waiting for people to register their properties. We've been doing full-blown special checks at every house, every building, every church, etc., in the Penn patrol zone," said Vice President Maureen Rush of Public Safety.

University of Pennsylvania police officer learns how to sew to make masks for health care workers, first responders

University of Pennsylvania police officer learns how to sew to make masks for health care workers, first responders

Jenna Ficci, an officer in Penn’s Police Department, has sewn more than 500 homemade masks for health care workers and first responders. “I think the real heroes are the medical workers, the nurses, the doctors,” Ficci said. “They’re the ones on the front line of this whole thing. I’m just doing what I can to help.”

Mission continuity plans help keep Penn operating
Aerial view of Penn campus buildings with Philadelphia skyline in background.

Penn’s senior leadership and trustees 12 years ago asked schools and centers to develop plans to guide their actions in event of a crisis to help continue operations, mitigate risk, and minimize disruption. Known as mission continuity, those blueprints are now helping to manage the impact of the pandemic. 

Mission continuity plans help keep Penn operating

Twelve years ago, the trustees and the University’s senior leadership asked the schools and centers to develop plans to guide them continuing operations during a crisis. Those plans are now helping manage the impact of the pandemic.

Louisa Shepard

Enthusiasm, hope, and ‘old guard’ warnings follow naming of Philly’s first black female police head

Enthusiasm, hope, and ‘old guard’ warnings follow naming of Philly’s first black female police head

Vice President Maureen Rush of Public Safety commented on the appointment of Philadelphia’s new police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw. When Rush started her law enforcement career in 1976, she said, she “would never have imagined that we would have had a woman commissioner, never mind a black woman commissioner, in the future.”