2008 Woodie Awards
Incident sparks change
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Forum
Almost one year removed from the terrible incident at Cowboys 2000, I felt now was a good time to evaluate the extensive changes made by Southwest Baptist University to improve student safety, better punish policy breakers and fix community ties with the city of Bolivar.
Our first observation is the locked doors on dormitories. The locking of these doors has surely prevented several thefts in various dorms this year. There have been no complaints of strange men wandering around the female dormitories and every female resident on campus, especially in Beasley, Leslie and Memorial Halls, feels safe.
Second, we observe the new and improved alcohol policy. Since its inception, there have been no rumors of students drinking on campus. Gone are the days of students having pictures of themselves drinking on Facebook, and being turned in to university officials. Very few students, if any, have consumed any alcoholic beverage this school year. It is wonderful to see that threatening students with possible expulsion and a monetary fine is detouring us from partying and consuming alcohol. This was obviously a great and effective decision.
Third, we take notice of SBU's decision to have people sign documents requiring them to live by the standards the university has laid out in the Principles of Expectation in the SBU handbook. Virtually no student has attempted to break a rule or questioned the validity of a rule, especially the policies on dorm visitation. It has been made very clear what SBU stands for and who they are by having students sign these forms.
Fourth, we highlight the extra security personnel on the Bolivar campus. Parking tickets are at a high. Their biggest achievement came earlier in the Fall semester when three teenagers were riding around town with guns threatening to shoot people in the middle of the day. It was great to see the massive response by our new security personnel. Everyone on campus was aware of the possible danger and all buildings were being monitored by at least one officer. Excellent work. It was a good decision to increase the security budget so handsomely.
Our first observation is the locked doors on dormitories. The locking of these doors has surely prevented several thefts in various dorms this year. There have been no complaints of strange men wandering around the female dormitories and every female resident on campus, especially in Beasley, Leslie and Memorial Halls, feels safe.
Second, we observe the new and improved alcohol policy. Since its inception, there have been no rumors of students drinking on campus. Gone are the days of students having pictures of themselves drinking on Facebook, and being turned in to university officials. Very few students, if any, have consumed any alcoholic beverage this school year. It is wonderful to see that threatening students with possible expulsion and a monetary fine is detouring us from partying and consuming alcohol. This was obviously a great and effective decision.
Third, we take notice of SBU's decision to have people sign documents requiring them to live by the standards the university has laid out in the Principles of Expectation in the SBU handbook. Virtually no student has attempted to break a rule or questioned the validity of a rule, especially the policies on dorm visitation. It has been made very clear what SBU stands for and who they are by having students sign these forms.
Fourth, we highlight the extra security personnel on the Bolivar campus. Parking tickets are at a high. Their biggest achievement came earlier in the Fall semester when three teenagers were riding around town with guns threatening to shoot people in the middle of the day. It was great to see the massive response by our new security personnel. Everyone on campus was aware of the possible danger and all buildings were being monitored by at least one officer. Excellent work. It was a good decision to increase the security budget so handsomely.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Jim Shawley
posted 4/13/07 @ 9:06 AM EST
Mr. Neilson's sarcasm is almost, but not quite, apparent. Perhaps he should volunteer to provide the answers to all the shortcomings he has pointed out. (Continued…)
Sacastic Ramblings
Yeah Right
posted 4/13/07 @ 11:51 AM EST
Ben... You are the Man. All this time and I thought you were being serious. Now all the ramblings you spout make sense. Your right... Girls are running for their lives in the dorms, Everyone at SBU is a drunk, No one follows the outragous rules, security does nothing but ticket, SBU and Bolivar try to make life boring, SBU respondes to negative things with Parades and hides from the media. (Continued…)
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