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September 26, 2006

Letters to the Editor

Concern for safety with parking policy

In response to a recently printed article “New Parking Policy Brings Relief” (Sept. 19), we have found that although relief may be a common feeling for some, it is not for others. For visitors and commuters this parking policy brings relief, but for many Drew residents this policy brings hassle, unnecessary inconvenience, and a compromised sense of safety.

Drew Hall is mainly composed of upperclassmen with cars who tend to work more, travel more, and have smaller meal plans (therefore tend to make more trips to grocery stores and carry more baggage from their cars into the building). We are not asking for a new lot or an increase in security, we are simply asking for a way to use the security we have effectively and efficiently.

On top of that, many Drew residents did not receive parking passes, even though Drew is the only residence hall with a parking lot where mostly upperclassmen are residing. After paying so much for tuition and housing, shouldn’t students have some sort of parking in their dorm’s lot? Walking two blocks to get to a person’s dorm is quite the hassle and frankly impractical, especially when many students are returning during later hours from working or a late-night food run.

For those who did get parking passes, it seems to compromise their safety having our overnight parking row the farthest from a door to Drew as well the farthest from the only call box in the lot. Designating the two lanes closest to the two exit doors from the back end of Drew seems to be more practical while still leaving closer spots for commuters and also visitors.

Finally, commuters and visitors tend to park on campus between 8 a.m. for morning classes and 10 p.m. for evening classes and Hamline-held events. Residents are the ones driving back to the dorms from the late shift at work. Those with passes are lucky enough to park in a lot but still with a sense of insecurity. However, those who do not have passes are forced to walk blocks, possibly alone during dark hours, with no video cameras, call boxes, or basic sense of security.

Some suggestions may be to allow students to park openly in the Drew lot during evening hours where they can be more accessible to the building’s doors and the only call box in the lot. Another option could be reconsidering the location of our one and only call box to a more effective location (if you can make it to the call box it is quite possible to make the short distance to the unlocked doors to Safety and Security or even the card access doors). All in all, we ask the school, what’s more important: available parking for commuters and visitors, or the safety of Hamline’s residents?

Maya Kruger ’09
Cassandra Wynn ’09

Security efforts not enough

We’re all aware of the crimes against Hamline students that began in our neighborhood last spring and continue into the fall. Last weekend’s robbery brought the issue of safety to the forefront again.

In an attempt to make students feel safer, school officials have arranged for increased police presence and built an on-campus convenience store. These efforts, while well-intentioned, are not enough to change the situation.

Law enforcement is useful, but police officers, for the most part, can only react to crimes already committed and their presence is limited. And the efforts to keep students on campus are of little use to the many Hamline students who live in the surrounding neighborhood. Further, ignoring the reality that house parties will draw students away from the dorms late at night hinders efforts to find an effective solution.

Fortunately, as students we have a wealth of unique resources at our disposal. The sheer number of Hamline students living near one another provides a powerful social network that can be used to address problems. Flexible schedules give us the opportunity to participate in activities that many others cannot. And we have access to the university’s financial and administrative support.

Keep in mind that, overall, this neighborhood is not unsafe. Besides these targeted robberies, crime in our neighborhood is not on the rise. Also, these incidents are not isolated. Other Twin Cities schools are facing similar increases in crime against students.

So let’s work to ensure that this area remains safe and welcoming. Rather than retreating into our “ivory tower,” we need to make it clear to visitors that this is an engaged, active neighborhood. In this way, we can look out for one another and deter crime.

To achieve this, we need to increase our presence in the area surrounding campus. Get out with your friends and walk to nearby restaurants or stores, for example. Off-campus students should take this opportunity to meet their neighbors.

This Tuesday, Sept. 26, there is a community meeting on campus. The police and community organizers from the Hamline-Midway Coalition will be available to answer questions. There will also be a chance to sign up for a walking group to increase our presence in the neighborhood. Take advantage of this chance to make your school a safer place.

Allison Chapman ’07

Professors sound off about 'ruckus'

Your article “Preacher causes ruckus" (Sept. 19) raised some questions in my mind. Since the precedent has been set that it takes 20 complaints to declare one’s speech a nuisance I see interesting implications down the road. Should we limit free speech to classroom only? Every year Bush Library organizes a public reading of works that were banned at some point in the past. What if the reading of the Communist Manifesto “riles up” 20 people? Will the police be called? Should we cancel all roundtables and presentations that are open to the public?

Maybe the best solution would be to form a committee whose job would be to approve all public presentations and make whatever changes necessary to assure that no one (or at least less than 20 people) is “riled up”. When we hear only what we agree with, then and only then, life will be harmonious and agreeable. Let us all “vote” YES to uniformity of speech and ideas.

John A. Mazis
Associate Professor of History

In response to “Preacher causes ruckus” in the Sept. 19 Oracle: After careful consideration of the state of affairs in the world, I decided that maybe today would be a good day to stand in a public area near Hewitt Avenue and loudly and legally proclaim my disagreements (or agreement, pick your poison) with US policies regarding the current war in Iraq. Might some feel “uncomfortable” if I said something that they didn’t “want to hear [...] in my workplace”? Might others consider me a “nuisance”? Can one person cause a “ruckus” or does he need help from his listeners? Would only five have to complain or maybe 20 before Safety and Security called the St. Paul police? Would I suffer the same fate as Brother Mark?

Better to hold my tongue and contemplate the fact that being called a “sinner” is much more entertaining when one happens to be an atheist.

Arthur Guetter
Professor of Mathematics

Posted by dwright at September 26, 2006 12:49 AM

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