For the class of 2004, the essentials of campus life go beyond books, computers and George Foreman grills. More than 800 freshmen have already been issued personal safety whistles, in an effort to cut crime at Saint Louis University.

The Department of Public Safety is sponsoring this project led by officers Gary Gray and Connie Tillman. The whistles-costing an average of $1.48 each and totaling more than $3000-are available to freshmen as well as special-needs students and victims of previous crimes. They bear the initials SLU and are being funded by DPS as welI as Student Development. It will likely take five years to provide whistles for all students at Saint Louis University.

This project began last year when DPS began to poll students, asking them what they thought of a neighborhood watch. Many students responded positively to the idea of a whistle program, Tillman reported.

The issue was taken up with SGA and Resident Assistants, who were very receptive to the idea. It was then taken to DPS director Jack Titone and Vice President for Student Development Kathy Humphrey, both of whom though it was a good idea. DPS spent a majority of the summer preparing to distribute the whistles this fall.

The whistles were initially distributed at freshman orientation. At that time the students were allowed to blow their whistles all at once. “I told them if they didn’t blow it, they wouldn’t get a chance without an emergency situation,” said Tillman. Students who do blow their whistles when not in an emergency situation will be fined $100. If used correctly, Tillman said, “Whistle defense can save your life.

“We have not yet seen the effects but we are sure they are coming,” said Tillman. She cited an incident last year when a student was robbed in front of the Griesedieck complex. A whistle would likely have prevented the incident.

Other schools around the nation have also implemented safety programs similar to that of SLU’s. Some schools that also have safety whistles include Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, Baits University and California State University.

One problem that DPS is concerned about is issuing the whistles to commuter students. “We want the commuters to know that if they get one word of us, they can get a whistle,” Tillman said.

Any commuter or other freshman who has not received a whistle and would like one is encouraged to contact Connie Tillman or Gary