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February 15, 2005
Letter to the Editor: Irked by a whodunit hit-and-run
On Thursday, Jan. 27, around 8:15 a.m., I parked my Toyota Sienna minivan between two cars in the first row of the law school parking lot.
When I went out to my car at 12:15 p.m., the person parked on my driver’s side had left, leaving behind a large dent and much missing paint on my rear quarter panel.
What the driver didn’t leave behind was a note taking responsibility. Given the extent of the damage, there is no way they couldn’t have known that they hit my car.
I would like to believe that looking at my van, they might have thought they didn’t do any damage because the dent, while severe, was slightly camouflaged by road salt and dirt. Even so, I would hope that a general sense of ethics and civic responsibility would lead one to leave a note. Luckily for the person who
chose to hit and run, the sun was obscuring the view on the security camera tapes.
Unluckily for me, I am now stuck with the cost of repairing my van. Granted, I’m angry and frustrated that I am now stuck with a repair bill I can’t really afford. Mostly, however, I am disappointed by the lack of responsibility and ethics reflected in the actions of the perpetrator of this hit and run. If we don’t take responsibility for our actions as citizens in the Hamline community, how do we expect to maintain a civil atmosphere?
Of course, this is just one incident between two people (or cars, as it may be) on a campus of many, but I really hope it is not a trend toward putting our self-interest above respect for those around us.
Kristen Norman-Major
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Management
P.S. If you would like to come forward and take responsibility now, I can be a very forgiving person.
Posted by msveum at February 15, 2005 01:02 PM