Leaders of Harvard student safety organizations said they agree that around-the-clock security is not necessary yet. But they do call for other improvements.

"I think more security couldn't hurt, but at the same time better education would be more valuable," said Rosalie L. Parker '96-'97, founder of the Harvard Alliance for Safety, Training and Education (HASTE).

"Harvard really needs to be careful about talking to the freshmen, and the upperclassmen, about keeping themselves safe and telling them if anything happens what plans of action they can take," Parker said.

Still, student safety leaders are not alarmed by Harvard's safety record.

"I've long maintained that Harvard's campus is really unsafe if you think it's safe," said Marco B. Simons '97 last year's president of Safety Walk. "It is a dangerous area, but if you take precautions about your safety, you will generally be okay."

For now, Harvard and Cambridge police are asking only that students and citizens take reasonable precautions.

These include locking doors and windows, checking the safety lights around homes and generally being street-smart and safety-conscious, according to Rooney.

Most importantly, according to McSweeney, "If you see someone suspicious, call the police.