(no subject)
Here's a letter VCU sent to their students (or should we call them sheep?) regarding the spikes in violent crime on and around campus. Comments are from the editor of the Virginia Citizen's Defense League, whose newsletter provides interesting spins on current news in VA.
Dear VCU Students:
The responsibility for personal safety falls upon each of us as ndividuals [OH, YEAH?! Then in that same theme of 'responsibility,' allow students who have CHPs to carry! - PVC]. Whether on the VCU campus, in a shopping mall, or simply walking home, it's up to each of us to take precautions to protect ourselves. [This is too much. STUDENTS WANT TO, but you won't let them! - PVC] While we work diligently to make the VCU environment as safe as possible for students and employees, the reality is that we are not immune to the same kinds of crimes that occur elsewhere. [Wouldn't you think that with admission of VCU's inability to protect ALL of its students, they would look differently at self-defense? - PVC]
The beginning of the semester is an exciting time at VCU. To make it even more enjoyable, we want to give you this important reminder about awareness of your personal safety. Our message is twofold: (1) you must assume responsibility for your personal safety by taking some common-sense precautions [Like carrying a handgun, perhaps? - PVC], and (2) you must become familiar with and use the resources the university has provided.
What kinds of precautions should you take?
* Be aware of your surroundings and others around you. [That way you'll have advance notice of when you're going to be raped, mugged, and/or murdered, since VCU has disarmed you. - PVC]
* Don't take shortcuts through poorly lit areas.
* Walk with a friend or in groups after dark. Do not go out alone late at night. [Yep - the criminals rule the night at VCU, I guess. - PVC]
* Don't assume that "it won't happen to me." [Also don't assume you can do anything to stop it, since the university has disarmed you 'for your own good.' - PVC]
* Trust your "gut" feelings. If something seems strange, it probably is.
* Be aware that alcohol and drug use impairs your ability to make good decisions about your safety. [Being part of the VCU Administration also seems to impair one's ability to make good decisions about safety. - PVC]
[* When all else fails, use the "I'm unarmed, please don't hurt me"
approach to send the criminals fleeing." - PVC ]
How should you use the resources on campus?
* Don't hesitate to ask any VCU Police Officer for assistance. They are here everyday, all day. Report any suspicious individuals or activity right away -- although it may not directly affect you, it could fit into a larger pattern of which you may not be aware.
* Make a mental note of the location of the Emergency Reporting Telephones outside all major buildings on campus. [These are your only real, VCU approved, lifelines during an emergency on VCU property. - PVC] These are yellow phones with a flashing amber light above them. (Indoors, look for red wall phones.) Use them simply to get directions to a campus location as well as to request police assistance. The phones automatically connect to the VCU Police dispatcher. Even if you are unable to speak, your location will be known to the VCU Police dispatcher as soon as you lift the receiver or press the button. An officer will be dispatched immediately.
* Use the Security Escort Service whenever you are on campus at night and need someone to escort you back to your residence hall or apartment near the campus. [Your security is to be handled at the convenience and availability of the escort service. Are they even armed or is this another feel-good safety measure? - PVC] Simply call 828-WALK from an ordinary phone, or use one of the Emergency Reporting Telephones to request an escort. Please be ready to show your VCU ID. This service is available, free of charge, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. nightly on both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus.
...
Sincerely,
Henry G. Rhone
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
Willie B. Fuller
Chief, VCU Police
I think PVC has some interesting points, especially considering what a fun place Richmond is to live. I will admit that many college students aren't fit for CHPs, but letters like these from University Admin just sound like they're dodging the issue and issuing those "feel-good" statements. All that's missing is something like "Oh kids, if you're ever in trouble, be sure to click your heels together three times and say 'there's no place like home,' and everything will be fine."
Hm. Doesn't seem to me that educational institutions should be making ordinances that rightly belong to the state and federal government. Of course, there is that bit that says "no firearms within 1000 feet of a school," but we all know that dangerous criminals set so much stock in laws. So there's absolutely no reason to worry.
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Okay, requisite hot-topic item done, this weekend has been, for want of a better word, a colossal bore. Duty on long weekends sucks, especially when there's a pointless muster every damn morning at 0640. I won't even mention standing gate watch on Friday night, suffice to say that my white shoes will never be the same.
But, that's my last long weekend of duty. I'm gonna come home for the weekend of October 7-9 (Columbus Day weekend), so when do people want to hit Crownsville? Any weekend but 30SEP and 14OCT, and I'm good!
Dear VCU Students:
The responsibility for personal safety falls upon each of us as ndividuals [OH, YEAH?! Then in that same theme of 'responsibility,' allow students who have CHPs to carry! - PVC]. Whether on the VCU campus, in a shopping mall, or simply walking home, it's up to each of us to take precautions to protect ourselves. [This is too much. STUDENTS WANT TO, but you won't let them! - PVC] While we work diligently to make the VCU environment as safe as possible for students and employees, the reality is that we are not immune to the same kinds of crimes that occur elsewhere. [Wouldn't you think that with admission of VCU's inability to protect ALL of its students, they would look differently at self-defense? - PVC]
The beginning of the semester is an exciting time at VCU. To make it even more enjoyable, we want to give you this important reminder about awareness of your personal safety. Our message is twofold: (1) you must assume responsibility for your personal safety by taking some common-sense precautions [Like carrying a handgun, perhaps? - PVC], and (2) you must become familiar with and use the resources the university has provided.
What kinds of precautions should you take?
* Be aware of your surroundings and others around you. [That way you'll have advance notice of when you're going to be raped, mugged, and/or murdered, since VCU has disarmed you. - PVC]
* Don't take shortcuts through poorly lit areas.
* Walk with a friend or in groups after dark. Do not go out alone late at night. [Yep - the criminals rule the night at VCU, I guess. - PVC]
* Don't assume that "it won't happen to me." [Also don't assume you can do anything to stop it, since the university has disarmed you 'for your own good.' - PVC]
* Trust your "gut" feelings. If something seems strange, it probably is.
* Be aware that alcohol and drug use impairs your ability to make good decisions about your safety. [Being part of the VCU Administration also seems to impair one's ability to make good decisions about safety. - PVC]
[* When all else fails, use the "I'm unarmed, please don't hurt me"
approach to send the criminals fleeing." - PVC ]
How should you use the resources on campus?
* Don't hesitate to ask any VCU Police Officer for assistance. They are here everyday, all day. Report any suspicious individuals or activity right away -- although it may not directly affect you, it could fit into a larger pattern of which you may not be aware.
* Make a mental note of the location of the Emergency Reporting Telephones outside all major buildings on campus. [These are your only real, VCU approved, lifelines during an emergency on VCU property. - PVC] These are yellow phones with a flashing amber light above them. (Indoors, look for red wall phones.) Use them simply to get directions to a campus location as well as to request police assistance. The phones automatically connect to the VCU Police dispatcher. Even if you are unable to speak, your location will be known to the VCU Police dispatcher as soon as you lift the receiver or press the button. An officer will be dispatched immediately.
* Use the Security Escort Service whenever you are on campus at night and need someone to escort you back to your residence hall or apartment near the campus. [Your security is to be handled at the convenience and availability of the escort service. Are they even armed or is this another feel-good safety measure? - PVC] Simply call 828-WALK from an ordinary phone, or use one of the Emergency Reporting Telephones to request an escort. Please be ready to show your VCU ID. This service is available, free of charge, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. nightly on both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus.
...
Sincerely,
Henry G. Rhone
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
Willie B. Fuller
Chief, VCU Police
I think PVC has some interesting points, especially considering what a fun place Richmond is to live. I will admit that many college students aren't fit for CHPs, but letters like these from University Admin just sound like they're dodging the issue and issuing those "feel-good" statements. All that's missing is something like "Oh kids, if you're ever in trouble, be sure to click your heels together three times and say 'there's no place like home,' and everything will be fine."
Hm. Doesn't seem to me that educational institutions should be making ordinances that rightly belong to the state and federal government. Of course, there is that bit that says "no firearms within 1000 feet of a school," but we all know that dangerous criminals set so much stock in laws. So there's absolutely no reason to worry.
---------------------
Okay, requisite hot-topic item done, this weekend has been, for want of a better word, a colossal bore. Duty on long weekends sucks, especially when there's a pointless muster every damn morning at 0640. I won't even mention standing gate watch on Friday night, suffice to say that my white shoes will never be the same.
But, that's my last long weekend of duty. I'm gonna come home for the weekend of October 7-9 (Columbus Day weekend), so when do people want to hit Crownsville? Any weekend but 30SEP and 14OCT, and I'm good!