 "Photo: The Olympian")
As students of Olympic College it is our duty to challenge the administration of the school in any area we see as needing additional attention.
By “challenge,” I do not mean be confrontational; instead, you should expect the best from those who expect the best from you. Encourage them in any way you can to meet your standards. The only way you can get this process started is by communicating with your instructors, teachers, advisers and administrators.
The disconnect between students and administration was made apparent over the past six weeks with the school’s handling of a hate crime. The response from students and faculty was resoundingly in favor of support for the victim and a change in policy.
The Olympian has adopted a policy of not publishing the name of the victim as a point of privacy.
We feel that an informed public is a safer public; meaning, if you know of the threats on and to this campus, you will know how to better protect yourself.
An example is Jeremy Bell’s story in the April 20 edition of The Olympian. Bell had his possessions stolen from a locker in the gym on April 14. In the May 4 edition it is mentioned that security was present when Bell’s car chirped.
I understand and sympathize with Bell’s situation. Having your most valuable possessions stolen from you is hard for anyone, but Bell’s situation could have been avoided.
The April 20 article makes it known that the locker Bell was using was not locked, thus making it an easy target. If Bell had known of the other recent break-ins in the gym, he may have been better prepared for this type of threat.
With administration asking for more input from students about how the two could communicate better, the power is in our hands. But with the burden of power comes the burden of responsibility. We have been given the responsibility of taking part in our own safety.
The Safety and Security window in the Bremer Student Center is there for you. You have a right to go to that window and ask about recent security related issues on campus, or even to ask advice of how to avoid being a victim. Take advantage of this, or risk being taken advantage of by those who prey on the uninformed.
The security personnel of the school are here to serve our public; they are not here to intimidate you and they are not here to harass you, they are here to protect and serve you and the people around you.
Our security guards work hard; they walk their rounds, keep up with their paperwork and accommodate student needs when requested. If you locked your keys in your car, security will help you; if you misplaced your bag, security will help you; if your car battery is dead, security will help you; if you’ve been a victim of a crime on campus, security will help you; if you want to be escorted to your car because it’s late and you’re parked in a poorly lit area, security will help you; if you need anything safety or security related, security will help you.
We all want to be informed, but it is our job to try to stay informed. Make the effort, share your ideas with a teacher, talk to security, write a letter to the administration or talk to members of the student government. They all want to know what YOU have to say.
So, until next time Rangers, I’m no expert, I’m just calling it how I see it.
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