2008 Woodie Awards
An alarming trend
Recent assaults remind campus to stay alert; keep safety in mind
By: Kameel Stanley
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Voices
- Page 1 of 1
No one likes to think they may be a target.
But a recent rash of crimes may be an indication that, for a certain group of students, that is exactly what's happening on Central Michigan University's campus.
Since the semester began, there have been four assault cases involving students.
On Sept. 8, police began investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place near the Towers. Nearly a month later, on Oct. 2, a student reported an alleged sexual assault in Kesseler Hall. Last week, a student came forward with several reports of being stalked and assaulted around campus. This past weekend, a student was a victim of strong-armed robbery near Rose Arena after leaving the T-Pain concert.
While these crimes vary details, there is a common denominator.
In all four incidents, the victim fit the same profile - all were 18-year-old females.
Coincidence?
It could be, perhaps.
But, as a person who has operates through life with a normally healthy dose of skepticism, I'm apt to believe there may be more to this.
Police have neither said nor done anything to suggest these incidents are connected to each other.
But the fact remains that, according to the information released so far, there does seem to be at least one similarity.
It's one of college's old adages that freshmen girls are targets, whether it be at the club, at a party or when it comes to upperclassmen males scopeing out the newest crop of fish in the dating pond.
The recent events on CMU's campus don't seem to be disproving this premise.
No, CMU may not be as bad as other college campuses.
Yes, I'm sure someone could find statistics that say crimes are extremely more prevalent at many other universities.
But a victim at this university is just as important as those at other ones.
These four incidents do more than highlight that crimes do happen, even in CMU's relatively safe campus atmosphere.
They also emphasize the fact that crimes are happening on campus, and all students - not just females - need to be aware and alert.
We can only hope these incidents are isolated and not part of some disturbing trend.
Many students probably don't walk around CMU's campus thinking they may be mugged, assaulted, stalked or, God forbid, a victim of a sex crime.
I know I don't.
CMU has a reputation as being one of the friendliest campuses in the state.
For the most part, it's true.
But all of us would be stupid not to pay attention to what has gone on these last several weeks.
But a recent rash of crimes may be an indication that, for a certain group of students, that is exactly what's happening on Central Michigan University's campus.
Since the semester began, there have been four assault cases involving students.
On Sept. 8, police began investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place near the Towers. Nearly a month later, on Oct. 2, a student reported an alleged sexual assault in Kesseler Hall. Last week, a student came forward with several reports of being stalked and assaulted around campus. This past weekend, a student was a victim of strong-armed robbery near Rose Arena after leaving the T-Pain concert.
While these crimes vary details, there is a common denominator.
In all four incidents, the victim fit the same profile - all were 18-year-old females.
Coincidence?
It could be, perhaps.
But, as a person who has operates through life with a normally healthy dose of skepticism, I'm apt to believe there may be more to this.
Police have neither said nor done anything to suggest these incidents are connected to each other.
But the fact remains that, according to the information released so far, there does seem to be at least one similarity.
It's one of college's old adages that freshmen girls are targets, whether it be at the club, at a party or when it comes to upperclassmen males scopeing out the newest crop of fish in the dating pond.
The recent events on CMU's campus don't seem to be disproving this premise.
No, CMU may not be as bad as other college campuses.
Yes, I'm sure someone could find statistics that say crimes are extremely more prevalent at many other universities.
But a victim at this university is just as important as those at other ones.
These four incidents do more than highlight that crimes do happen, even in CMU's relatively safe campus atmosphere.
They also emphasize the fact that crimes are happening on campus, and all students - not just females - need to be aware and alert.
We can only hope these incidents are isolated and not part of some disturbing trend.
Many students probably don't walk around CMU's campus thinking they may be mugged, assaulted, stalked or, God forbid, a victim of a sex crime.
I know I don't.
CMU has a reputation as being one of the friendliest campuses in the state.
For the most part, it's true.
But all of us would be stupid not to pay attention to what has gone on these last several weeks.
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