EDITORIAL: Securing Campus

The University should takeThe University should takeimmediate action to preventThe University should takeimmediate action to preventfuture vandalism of carsThe University should takeimmediate action to preventfuture vandalism of carsparked on campus.The University should takeimmediate action to preventfuture vandalism of carsparked on campus.______________________________ After the initial 21 cars were vandalized, we expected the University to take action. Instead of working quickly to prevent further problems, the University held the ever-present and ever-ineffective campus forum. And while administrators and students talked about what to do, thieves continued to act -- hitting another 19 cars during Family Weekend. At a University that is so concerned with image, we wonder what type of impression parents get when they see other families taping cardboard to a recently smashed window, or filing a police report after they've had their laptop computer stolen. It is only logical to beef up security when many more cars will be parked on campus during special weekends. Unfortunately, the administration had no such foresight. As for the continuing problem of students' cars getting damaged and their belongings stolen, we offer our suggestions. Video cameras and additional patrols should become commonplace in campus garages so potential law violators will be deterred and those that persist will be more likely to be apprehended. Patrols should not stay in one place, but should search the garage often to seek out crime. Students, faculty and staff pay as much as $700 per year to park their cars in University garages. For that price, they should be able to use their parking space with confidence and without having to strip their cars clean of all belongings in order to avoid theft. Homecoming weekend is two weeks away. We expect the University to have made significant changes by then so that we can all avoid the embarrassment suffered this past weekend and end a recurring problem for students with cars on campus.