Princeton’s Department of Public Safety (PSafe) has decided to boost campus patrols in response to recent deadly events overseas and at a Hanukkah gathering in Sydney, according to a Sunday evening email from university officials. The message, signed by Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun and PSafe Director Kenneth Strother, reassured students that there are no known specific threats to Princeton at the moment, but emphasized that extra security measures are in place as a precaution.
The alert arrives after a mass shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others, and after a terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney that claimed at least 15 lives. The university community noted similar heightened security steps across other Ivy League schools, including Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania, which also issued statements about expanding security and patrol presence on Sunday.
Additionally, Princeton’s administration has briefed the campus Jewish community on enhanced safety measures for Hanukkah events, which began Sunday evening. In a separate Sunday morning note, Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, executive director of Princeton’s Center for Jewish Life (CJL), acknowledged the weekend’s violence could leave students feeling anxious, angry, or unsettled, and urged them not to carry those burdens alone. He also announced a Chanukah dinner and memorial at Chabad that evening, and a CJL Chanukah gathering scheduled for Tuesday with a candle lighting at 4:57 p.m., inviting communal remembrance.
Steinlauf reflected that Hanukkah begins with a small flame that represents resilience in the face of despair, adding light night after night even when the world seems hostile. The university’s communications pointed readers toward available support services, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), chaplains from the Office of Religious Life, Graduate School Student Affairs staff, and residential college personnel.
Brown University became the Ivy League’s most recent campus to endure a mass shooting with multiple fatalities. The Brown incident occurred Saturday afternoon, with nine others wounded, and as of Sunday one patient remained in critical condition. In the wake of the attacks, Brown canceled all in-person final exams for Fall 2025 across the campus, with exceptions only for the Warren Alpert Medical School and the IE Brown Executive MBA program. Remaining assessments may be completed remotely by January 7, or students may accept a course grade based on work submitted through December 13.
The Bondi Beach incident in Sydney was described by authorities as a targeted act of terrorism, occurring around 6:45 p.m. local time. The Daily Princetonian notes the broader context of escalating concerns about campus safety and public security in the wake of such events.
University leaders urged the community to lean on campus resources during this period of grief and uncertainty, reiterating their commitment to student well-being. For further information or corrections, readers are encouraged to contact the Daily Princetonian’s corrections desk or the appropriate campus offices.
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