Standing in line at Woody Hall, an echoing of complaints fills the tiny reception area.
“What do you mean my student loan check is lost?” yells a frustrated student at Financial Aid.
“Are you crazy, lady? I just came in a minute ago and the class was open,” screams another student.
Watch out, students.
President Stephen Morgan is lurking around the corner just waiting for you to step out of line. According to a new memorandum sent out to all school employees, any action considered threatening should be immediately reported and persons found in violation will receive appropriate action.
According to the memo, examples of violence or threats include:
“Menacing gestures; pushing, grabbing, jabbing, shaking fingers in another’s face; moving inappropriately close to another in anger. Using profanity; talking unnecessarily loud in anger. Expressions of intent to inflict pain, injury, evil, or retaliation.”
And if you do any of these things and are just joking, tough luck.
So, just what is this memo all about?
After two recent incidents in which either staff members or students were threatened, these memos automatically appeared. Funny thing is, when asked, Dr. Morgan told me he did not know of either event.
If he had no idea of all these events, then what is the big deal? If you do not even want to acknowledge the problem, then why should we, as students, follow the “Workplace Security” memo?
When Dr. Morgan was questioned about an alleged incident where a student threatened a staffer in the Campus Accelerated Program for Adults (CAPA) office, he said he had no idea.
Likewise, Dr. Morgan denied any knowledge of gay-bashing threats sent over the Vax.
Maybe Dr. Morgan truly did not know about these events or maybe he just likes to write a bunch of memos for no particular reason.
Security on campus is a problem, but lets talk about what this memo means.
For instance, sometimes I get so upset, I just want to slap somebody in the face. There must be a hundred people at this school who, at any given time, I feel compelled to either verbally abuse or straight out want to slap.
Last year the Financial Aid Office lost my papers. So what else is new? I waited for a while because they told me they might be able to find them. They found them, but forgot to mention that I had lost a couple thousand dollars in grants. With anger in my voice and tears in my eyes, I told off a couple of high-ranking ULV officials.
I would not have been able to come to school without that money, but thanks to my persistent loud mouth at Woody Hall, I am here.
There are people on campus who do worse than complaining at Woody Hall, and what are you saying Dr. Morgan, that I would be kicked out because the Financial Aid Office made a mistake? Not if the past is an example.
I personally know three individuals who were involved in various violent or threatening incidents on campus. Only one of the individuals was a victim. That person must live with the horror of that particular incident for life. The other two who were allegedly involved as perpetrators in other crimes received slaps on the wrists from the administration. I do not consider the results of these examples “appropriate actions.”
“Violence or threats of violence will not be tolerated,” said Dr. Morgan’s memo. Let me see you kick out students who committed these crimes, or at least admit to me and the rest of ULV that there is a problem, then maybe violence will stop.
Before you send memos, Dr. Morgan, and the rest of the administration, why not practice what you preach?
I do not mean to threaten anyone, but start dealing with the problem and stop excusing the perpetrators of crimes. Then, maybe something might get done around here.
