University President Bryce Jordan publicly endorsed the Campaign for a Safer Penn State Friday, praising a week of safety programs sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government Department of Safety until Saturday.

"The University appreciates the initiative undertaken by (the Undergraduate Student Government)," Jordan said. "The campaign is important to everyone at Penn State. The matter of public safety is a matter of knowledge, preparation and awareness.

"This is where it all starts," said Thomas Harmon, assistant director of University Safety. "We can't fully protect people. People need to be educated, so they can protect themselves."

Harmon said the Department of University Safety has tried to create a safer climate in recent years by increasing lighting, establishing an escort service, 911 emergency access and card-key access.

Director of the USG Department of Safety Robyn Walls stressed the importance of taking action against crime.

"Twenty-five percent of women in college have been the victims of rape or attempted rape," Walls said. "We at Penn State don't need to further those statistics. We need to fight them."

She said the best way to fight crime is through education.

"We are here for higher education -- let us educate ourselves on basic survival."

USG President Janyne Althaus, who created the Department of Safety, said everyone has a responsibility to educate themselves about keeping safe.

"We all have a right to be safe," Althaus said. "But in order to exercise that right, we have to fulfill the responsibility of educating ourselves on how to secure that right, no only for us, but those we love and care for too."

The three programs remaining include: a speaker from Mothers Against Drunk Driving at 8 tonight in the HUB Assembly Room; the movie "Clean and Sober" at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the HUB Assembly Room, and a program on alcohol and sexuality at 7 p.m. Thursday.