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'Under the Dome' security preparations

A letter to the community from John DiFava, MIT director of facilities operations and security
To the members of the MIT community:

As you know an Open House is being held at MIT this Saturday, April 30, 2011. Although there is no way to confirm how many people will attend, it's possible that 20,000 to 30,000 people or more will be on campus for this wonderful day. We are inviting people to peek under the dome and see for themselves what we do.

Of course, this unique experience brings challenges, too. Therefore, I ask for your help to ensure that our campus is as safe as possible during this event. We seek your cooperation with the following:

Please secure all doors and accessible windows in areas where there are no events. This will help reduce the chance for "crimes of opportunity:" the theft of unlocked and unattended items — laptop computers, digital cameras, iPhones, or your wallet and cash.

Adhere to the MIT policy that expressly prohibits anyone from entering any area they do not have permission to access. This policy covers academic rooftops and other prohibited areas such as: residence halls in which you do not live; buildings with posted hours; and areas that may be accessed by others, but which you do not have proper authority to enter. Violation of this policy will result in referral to the Office of Student Citizenship, the Committee on Discipline, and/or arrest for trespassing and other related charges.

Expect visitors for the Cambridge Science Festival. In addition to the Under the Dome celebration, Saturday is the first day of the Cambridge Science Festival, so there will be lots of inquisitive minds on campus. If people have questions you cannot answer, please direct them to one of the three information tents on campus: Mass Ave., North Court, and Kendall Square.

Our best wishes for a happy and safe Under the Dome celebration. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation on this festive occasion.

Please remember if you see something, say something by calling the MIT Police immediately at 617-253-1212.

John DiFava
Director, Facilities Operations and Security

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