Our campus has seen some interesting activity over the past few weeks. From the arrest of four football players for robbery and alleged assault to the 74-person drug bust to the Harlem Shake dance video disruption, campus officials and police have become more involved in recent affairs. But should students be concerned about their rights and well-being?
This first incident involving several football players seemed to cause two reactions. First, many people began to seriously question their safety on campus, especially during late hours. As if safety was not already a prominent issue on campus with all the recent gun violence, now students may worry about being knocked unconscious and mugged at night.
The second reaction I have noticed deals with the question of disciplinary action towards student athletes. I heard many people ask about the players’ status on the team as well as their status on campus. Students often noted the players’ athletic abilities, some having high recruit rankings, and wondered if that would play a part in lessening their punishment. While they were suspended form the team, the circumstances surrounding their leaving campus remain unclear.
Another shocking event that has sparked conversation has been the arrest of 74 people for drug charges, 61 of the 74 being University of Alabama students. These people were arrested in dorms and apartments after an unexpected late-night raid by police. After the initial shock of the large number, the question soon turned to what would be done with these students. Suspension? Expulsion? Some students have even recently suggested rehabilitation centers rather than jail time.
The last, but probably most comical, event, was the shutdown of the Harlem Shake video being filmed on the back steps of Gorgas Library. And although it was easy to laugh at police and University officials shutting down a dance video, it brought into question the rights of students. The student in charge of orchestrating the event was ticketed and even feared suspension or expulsion.
When all three of these events are compared to each other, their outcomes become critical. How will the University’s treatment of drug charges compare with its treatment of assault. Could the student who innocently organized a YouTube video sensation be expelled while others with more offensive charges face suspension?
As a third party outside of all three of these situations, the one most likely to affect me is the alleged assault charges and robbery incident. The drug charges were the decisions of those students and most directly affected themselves. The students involved in the dance video were participating in a seemingly harmless social gathering. But the charges of alleged assault and robbery pose the possibility of violence and harm towards others, which is a possibility that I would not look forward to welcoming back on campus.
The difference is between being an innocent victim to an alleged assault and robbery, versus making the choice to be a participant in drug activity. It will be interesting to see how the University handles these diverse cases.
Hannah Waid is a junior majoring in English. Her column runs biweekly.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Professor wins award for psychopathy research
