Yeah, that’s just naive. Muggings of students happen all the time near the Penn, Brown, Yale, and Harvard campuses. Schools are required to keep and disclose a crime log after the Clery Act. This one, being so much more violent and taking a young woman’s life, is much more serious. But you really never know.
When my son was a freshman at UT, he called to say that a gunman had entered the library directly across the street from his dorm, where he was. Nobody was hurt in the incident, but yes, it’s unfortunately common. 
A few months ago many Barnard students were angry when a male student was arrested after he refused to show identification when he entered the campus. The Barnard officer was fired for “profiling.” Now students will understand why security measures are unfortunate, but necessary.
When my daughter dropped off a paper with her Professor, he actually voiced concern that barely any of 1st year students had dropped in to at least discuss deferring some finals, instead he has been seeing mostly his upper-class students. It’s possible the first-years probably haven’t quite figured out yet how caring and co-operative most of the faculty is, and that they truly could be accomodated if they felt the need.
That security officer was placed on leave while they investigated but was he fired?
I heard he was fired, but I could be wrong. He was definitely placed on leave and some students demanded he be fired.
There are so many different stories going around. Last I heard was that the security officer was there when she reached the station and immediately called 911. The college said that the officers at the station do not make rounds.
Correct, much of the initial TV reporting that night was mostly made up - from the actual time of the incident, to the reporting that she not been found until half an hour later (which always seemed unlikely given the time of day - even at Morningside Ave), to the TV reports of a blood trail leading all the way to the perpetrator’s residence (which, again, made no sense when there was only one injured party).
But all that irresponsible nonsense really caused a LOT of upset that first night! I know of medically trained students who had been walking literally just around the corner during the exact time, and who were completely devastated when they were falsely lead to believe by the news crews, that they could have to come to the rescue, if they had only known.
With regard to the “racial profiling” incident, the way it was described to me, the student did not understand he had to show ID to enter Milstein (I think) after 11. He thought he was being asked for ID as a POC. Security tried to explain, the student was incensed, and the situation escalated to the point security put hands on the student. If that’s true, take away the guard’s livelihood?
As first year parents, Tessa Majors’ murder has brought shock, heartbreak, fear, and a feeling of loss I can’t describe. Friends of mine with daughters feel it too, it’s visceral. Pain for the family. Barnard has supported the community with love and grace, including the parent community, and we are so grateful for that.
The class is supporting each other beautifully. “I am with my people all the time, and I am being cared for” is how my daughter describes her Barnard community. As former New Yorkers, we know Barnard and Columbia provide excellent security, and that Manhattan remains the safest big city in the US.
Our daughter loves Barnard. She has never been happier, more fulfilled, more engaged with life, even at this time of mourning for bold, beautiful Tessa Majors, Barnard Class of 2023.
Thanks for the posting about exam accommodations and first years. Checked in with with my daughter and asked if first years were in the dark about exam accommodations. Barnard has informed them very clearly exam accommodations are available and will be granted. Asked also how things are. “Good. Watched bad Christmas movies and made cookies.” Barnard strong.
What a terrible tragedy. My D20 was accepted ED tonight and was so happy, but it was tempered by thoughts of this poor student and her family. We are so sorry for their loss.
Barnard strong.
Congratulations to your bold, beautiful daughter and to your family. How joyous ED was for us. I still tear up thinking back to that night. My daughter was well aware it was ED last night. She was worried about your daughter and every girl who was accepted. It’s true, it’s not the same, but she hoped ED wouldn’t be ruined. She hoped her future underclass-women would know the Barnard community stands strong. Is healing. She is really concerned the school will lose great girls. I told her I didn’t think so. If anything bolder, stronger women will fill next year’s class. Maybe more girls from cities. I don’t have any answers. What I do know is no college is perfectly safe. Barnard has excellent security as does Columbia. NYPD has increased its presence and committed to it. Barnard offers our amazing daughters an unmatched education and community. Plus Columbia. Plus Manhattan. Congratulations on ED. Welcome to Barnard Strong.
My daughter is a 2nd year, and I am continually amazed by the school and all that it has offered her. It is an incredible, incredible opportunity for a young woman. My student has taken full advantage of the city, seeing shows, eating out, thrift shopping, and easily earning money babysitting via Barnard Babysitting. She travels the subways by herself in the local area, but as I’ve seen, they are filled with school children heading home and normal people going about their day. She is beyond sad by what happened to Tess, and definitely did not feel safe the first few days, even in her dorm which truly is secure. One of the side effects of Barnard is that the students become/are so confident they feel like they are 10 feet tall. Empowering for sure, but they aren’t invincible as this tragedy shows. But yes, they are healing. And ready to welcome their new sisters.
Could someone link a patrol zone for Columbia/ Barnard officers? Does it extend beyond the perimeter of the campus?
I haven’t found a map, but most of the housing and many buildings are outside the gated perimeters of both campuses and obviously in the patrol zone and/or staffed 24/7. There are undergraduate dorms from roughly 109th street past 121st, the Manhattanville campus is up at 125th. There are dorms E/W from Claremont over to the boundary of Morningside Park. There are security booths on Claremont, Broadway (both sides) 116th, 114th, Amsterdam, over by Morningside, and over on 120th.
@divarose: does that mean good security or bad? Isn’t 114th to 116th very long?
I am glad professors are taking this into account for finals.
But the “stiff upper lip”/we keep going would kinda worry me. This is a major event, students are naturally traumatized, I hope they’re given space to acknowledge they aren’t feeling strong and brave in the face of such tragedy.
Barnard students need to be educated that they aren’t in Kansas anymore and need to take reasonable precautions. The press is now reporting that Tess was in the park to buy drugs.
What press is that? I’m local and I haven’t seen reporting like that. It’s all over the news here, too.
@AriBenSion What press?
NY Post - that model of journalistic excellence. Roll eyes.
https://nypost.com/2019/12/15/tessa-majors-was-looking-to-buy-weed-before-her-murder-police-union-president-claims/