Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: Jessica Larson Broken glass in the doorway of Muehlmeier

Recently, Lakeland College has become a cesspool of thieves, vandals, unsanitary dorm dwellers and lepers. Okay, maybe not that last one, but you never know what's next and I wanted to make sure you were paying attention.

Roughly there have been eight reported cases of theft and car break-ins in dorms and parking lots alone, two incidents of defecation on floors of dormitory restrooms, and one account of repeated public urination in the Grosshuesch hallway. The behavior is atrocious to say the very least.

This brings up the ultimate inquiry, what can students do about this? How can Lakeland students live on campus devoid of insolent jackasses ****ting on shower floors, stealing people's valuable items, destroying community furniture and recreational devices, as well as live in a urine-stench-free environment?

The first and foremost patronizing and obvious answer is don't live in the dorms, and move to Brotz Hall. But does that solve our problem? Of course not, no one should be forced to move somewhere more expensive simply because criminals and unhygienic people plague their living space.

It's not the rule abiding students' faults, and it certainly should not be up to the housekeeping and maintenance staff to clean up these delinquent acts of immaturity.

So what is a valuable solution? As for room theft, locking your window and closing your door when leaving is a great way to thwart it. For auto theft, make sure your car doors are locked, and put any valuables in the trunk or somewhere else you find is safe.

If those precautions aren't enough, video surveillance is a good way to ward off criminals too.

After $1400 in stolen items over one weekend, Senior Neal Grosskopf, put up a webcam directed at his window along with Muehlmeier RA Christopher Fuerste to film any unsuspected intruders. Grosskopf also put up a poster on his door offering rewards for returned goods or tips on suspects.

If all else fails, students have to rely on security to catch these thieves when making rounds during the night. However, seeing as this isn't making the cut, a non-student suggestion is due.

If the instinctual key crime prevention techniques fail, maybe Lakeland should invest in some light and motion-sensor triggered cameras outside the dorms, or even some rent-a-cops to patrol during the night.

Continued...

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