2008 Woodie Awards
editorial
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Opinions
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Police presence on campus demands student responsibility
Rapidly garnering a reputation as one of the most raucous parties of the semester, the VACA Halloween bash on Friday resulted, for the second year in a row, in a flurry of uniformed activity on campus. This year, two students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Earlier in the evening, a visibly flustered Public Safety officer took to the D.J. booth and, shouting over a sea of frenzied students, warned partygoers to keep "the booze" out of Johnson Memorial Building, where the bash made its triumphant, seedy return.
The reactions to this weekend's events point to students' widespread misconceptions about the role that both Public Safety officers and town policemen play on campus, and betray the wildly immature attitude that many students take in dealing with both bodies of officials. By Saturday afternoon extravagant rumors about the Friday night arrests peppered student conversation, and the incident only heightened the belief among many students that police presence on campus is especially prominent this semester. The general sentiment was one of frustration and indignation.
With the Department of Public Safety and the MPD disputing these assertions, however, it is time for students to reevaluate their impressions of both organizations.
Communication between the Department of Public Safety and the MPD is, clearly, crucial to a successful working relationship between the two bodies, but all signs seem to indicate that protocol is already in place and being followed when it comes to College dealings with the MPD. These protocols were updated recently, and were activated on Friday night. Other incidents - like the evacuation that came in the wake of last week's train derailment - further point to the harmonious, cooperative links between College security and town officials.
Why, then, are students so out of sorts?
Too many Middlebury students have an unrealistic view of the College as a sanctuary from both the law and the outside community. At times, this misunderstanding manifests itself in that infamous "Middlebury bubble." Occasionally, it translates to frustration for students who insist on hoping that the campus functions as a safe zone for supposedly responsible underage drinkers.
Rapidly garnering a reputation as one of the most raucous parties of the semester, the VACA Halloween bash on Friday resulted, for the second year in a row, in a flurry of uniformed activity on campus. This year, two students were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Earlier in the evening, a visibly flustered Public Safety officer took to the D.J. booth and, shouting over a sea of frenzied students, warned partygoers to keep "the booze" out of Johnson Memorial Building, where the bash made its triumphant, seedy return.
The reactions to this weekend's events point to students' widespread misconceptions about the role that both Public Safety officers and town policemen play on campus, and betray the wildly immature attitude that many students take in dealing with both bodies of officials. By Saturday afternoon extravagant rumors about the Friday night arrests peppered student conversation, and the incident only heightened the belief among many students that police presence on campus is especially prominent this semester. The general sentiment was one of frustration and indignation.
With the Department of Public Safety and the MPD disputing these assertions, however, it is time for students to reevaluate their impressions of both organizations.
Communication between the Department of Public Safety and the MPD is, clearly, crucial to a successful working relationship between the two bodies, but all signs seem to indicate that protocol is already in place and being followed when it comes to College dealings with the MPD. These protocols were updated recently, and were activated on Friday night. Other incidents - like the evacuation that came in the wake of last week's train derailment - further point to the harmonious, cooperative links between College security and town officials.
Why, then, are students so out of sorts?
Too many Middlebury students have an unrealistic view of the College as a sanctuary from both the law and the outside community. At times, this misunderstanding manifests itself in that infamous "Middlebury bubble." Occasionally, it translates to frustration for students who insist on hoping that the campus functions as a safe zone for supposedly responsible underage drinkers.
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