Newspapers / Brevard College Student Newspaper / Oct. 15, 1998, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of Brevard College Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
2 Editorials Thursday, October 15, 1998 Public Safety Concerns on Campus by Vivian Rivers I was having an argument the other day with someone over how safe the town of Brevard and Brevard College really is compared to other towns and cities as well as other colleges and universities. Back in 1995 during resident assistant training, I remember Steve Woodson commenting on the fact that Brevard College has a 0% crime rate. “What?” I thought. “How in the world could this campus be that safe?” Granted, I have never felt threatened on or off this campus but 0% was a little hard to believe. What people don’t necessarily know is this statistic is based on crimes REPORTED and SOLVED. It does not, however, include those crimes not reported or those crimes committed off campus by college students. Curious about these facts, and a neat little pamphlet I found outside to office of Campus Life, I ventured to Steve to ask him a few questions. According to this pamphlet, “the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, signed into law November 8, 1990, requires higher education institutions like Brevard College to issue an annual report describing campus security procedures, facili ties, policies, crime prevention programs, statistics, and other information.” I think students should grab a copy and take a look for themselves what it contains. For example, during the school year 1996-97, there was one reported aggravated assault and nine drug abuse offenses. Supposedly, there were no cases of murder, rape, robbery, motor vehicle theft, burglary, weapons possessions, or violations of the liquor laws. This all looked good on paper, but don’t be deceived. Just because Brevard isn’t L.A. or Atlanta doesn’t mean that crimes don’t happen and don’t get reported. I, personally, know that there were more than nine drug offenses in 1996- 97; additionally, I stolidly doubt that no students drank, possessed, or purchased alcohol as minors for minors. Also, date rape is more common than people believe. If I recall correctly, in the 1996-97 school year there was a “presumed” account of date rape where a girl on campus was given the drug rophynol and taken advan tage of while she was unconscious. Taking a look at other colleges and the incidents that have occurred on their campuses might offer ways to protect yourself from future or possible viola tions. At the University of Florida, a girl living in an all-female dormitory was kidnapped, raped and murdered outside of Gainesville. The assailant was a younger looking man who had knocked on the security door of a co-ed domi. A resident answered. The assailant told her that his girlfnend lived up on the third floor and he was trying to surprise her. Allowed entry, the man hid in a stall of the conimu- nity bathroom. At about 4 AM that morning, the assailant pulled a girl from her stall, knocked her unconscious, and escaped without witnesses. True, that was at Florida, but who is to say it couldn’t happen at Brevard College. I guess the point of this editorial is for the student body to realize that Brevard College is an open campus meaning anyone at anytime can come on and off this campus. Pick up one of the pamphlets outside Campus Life, so that you can learn some simple ways to prevent a crime that may be waiting to happen. Mixed Sentiments by Bullet J. Philippe The fall semester here at Brevard College has been well under way for almost (believe it or not) two months. Fall brake has finally come to save us all... at for least five days. Some new students here at B.C. have adjusted well to their class schedules and are really enjoying Brevard College... but only some stu dents. For the majority of students here at Brevard College who have learned to like or even love this place, there are still some students who are not too “fond” of this institution. When students were asked why they were unhappy here, the answers remained the same as when I first attended Brevard College in 1995, The number one answer has always been “there’s nothing to do here.” The truth of the matter is that there are things to do here, just not the things most students expect to do when they first arrive at college. Don’t get me wrong, everyone, lack of entertainment and activity does become fhistrating, especially if it’s not the same ^e offered at larger colleges or that we are accustomed to at home. But one thing is for certain; there are places to dance and party other than the dances* held in the Coltrane Commons, unfortunately they’re not in Brevard. Dance clubs and shopping malls can be found 45 minutes to an hour away in Greenville, S.C. Asheville, N.C., and Hendersonville, N.C. Which leads me trying to touch base on another dilemma: transporta tion. Most of us have it, some of us don’t. Lack of transportation really limits a lot of things that can be seen or done. Once you are off campus, it’s really is hard to get around without it (believe me, I know). But not ownmg a vehicle of your own should not stop you from getting important necessities. The hardest part could be to just asking a friend if they can do you the favor of taking you somewhere in town. I personally know a lot of people who do that once in awhile. It also never hurts, now and then, to give them a couple of dollars for gas in exchange for the rides you receive. Most people frown at the idea of depending on someone else’s h^lf’’ Silv/ays beats two But even if that doesn’t work, going up to the nearest forest to relax once in awhile doesn t hurt.. You don’t have to be an esiivironmental studies major or a nature buff to enjoy some peace and tranquility. It is surprisingly therapeutic and it also helps a whole lot during stressfiil times, whether in classes or life in general. I may not have the answers to the common complaints and questions in reference to Brevard College (I never claimed to have had them). But the one thing I can say to the fhistrated students here at Brevard is to give it a chance. Like anythmg in life, don’t let little things stop you from enjoying or finding yourself That’s what college is for, and that’s also what B.C. is for. There is a lot that can or cannot be said about Brevard College. Every- Aing can be voiced by anyone, but only those who have experienced Brevard College are the ones that are truly heard. Freshman Athletes Adjusting to a New Environment by Katherine Sullivan Well summer has passed, and fall is now officially here. It just would not be autumn in Brevard without our various sports’ teams kicking up into high gear. For the sophomores, the morning practices, the late dinners, and the never-ending games are all but a familiar routine; but what about the freshman athletes? How are they adjusting? Having polled several differ ent freshmen involved with a variety of different sports, I asked them ques tions concerning school, college life, and practice. For the most part, I re ceived generally positive answers. When ask^ if there were more dis tractions in college than in high school, freshman baseball player Ryan Chipman replied, “No because ther« are fewer distractions, just sports and school.” Freshman cross-country run ner Chrissy Bracy said it was not diffi cult to adjust to a new coach and a new programme, “because I enjoy my new surroundings, and I welcome a change in not only my running but my life.” When asked if it was difficult to strike a balance between practice, books, and a social life, freshman soccer player Heather Morris quickly an swered, “No because I have been used to the balancing act my whole life.” Per haps baseball player Billy Hayes sums freshman feelings best when he states: College athletics require more work and more adapting skills, and it is a defi nite step up from high school.” As one can see our new crop of f^reshman stars are embracing the chal lenges and handling the transition frx)m high school to college. Please Contribute to 'l our Paper! Al! serious stories will be considered! The Clarion ^;aff /’ r-r' ' v^iews expressed here in The Clarion io not necessarily reflect the opinion )f The Clarion staff, faculty, advisor, )r the administration or Staff of Brevard College. Letters can be leposited at The Clarion office, idG104. Editors in Chief Wilham Ginsler Sarah Carpenter News Correspondant Bullet Philippe Nexys James Martin Campus Life Mandi Milligan Atrs & Entertainment Kate Brown Megan Clark Sports Editor Katherine Sullivan Sports Staff Megan Ritsch Gavin McCormack Photography Sarah Carpenter Advisors Rhuemma Miller Lynn Beddow
Brevard College Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 15, 1998, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75