To the Editor:
I am writing to express concern about something that I recently observed while eating in the TV lounge at the Commons Dining Hall. On April 6, at approximately 6 pm, three Public Safety officers entered the Commons. A few minutes later, another entered, followed a few minutes later by two more officers, bringing the grand total to six Public Safety officers in the Commons. At first, I thought something was wrong, but I heard no commotion that could warrant a response from six officers, so I thought nothing of it.
When I got up to bring my tray back, I saw the officers again. Three were seated at a table eating and the other three were just finishing up and returning their trays! When I left the Commons, there were two Public Safety cars in the Commons lot and I can only presume that the other three left in a third car. I was appalled! After all, who was patrolling campus while these six were having dinner?
I could see where they might have gotten off shift and were eating, but since they had their cars with them, it was obvious that no one else was patrolling, since I’ve never seen a Public Safety foot patrol—plus the fact that it was raining. I would hate to think what might have happened if someone had been in distress at the far end of campus while these officers were enjoying their dinner.
John Blauvelt
CSCI / CSYS ’03
