Ball State Drama

[Mr. Blonde]

Many of you are aware of the current problems happening at ball state. Last semester a student was killed by a UPD officer, a couple weeks ago a student was robbed and shot in the head, and over break 3 students were involved in a stabbing. The University is now cracking down on off-campus parties. This is an email sent to all bsu students today by a "Douglas F. McConkey"

I appreciated the thought-provoking editorial in Monday's Daily News. It reminded us all of the preciousness of life and how we should not allow dark "humor" to become an acceptable form of grief management. I agree with this message and applaud the Daily News for making the point.



In the days ahead, you'll be hearing another message (some would call it a warning) from the university administration and the city of Muncie regarding student behavior. Before I go any further, I want to emphasize that, in my view, Karl Harford's victimization by what appears to be a proven criminal was not his fault nor was it the fault of his friends. This perspective is shared by the university's senior leaders. Karl's murder and a stabbing a week later at an off-campus party have led many to ask, even demand, that the university "do more" to "ensure" the safety of our students.



The focus of many of these questions and concerns is off-campus partying. City police have said these parties have a tendency to draw uninvited visitors, who sometimes are looking for trouble, and to encourage or provide an environment for illegal or unsafe behavior. Although we know responsible students often drink in their homes without incident, we have always looked for ways to dissuade students from hosting parties that lead to trouble. Several times a year, and with our cooperation, Indiana State Excise Police check out parties for illegal activity. The last time, on March 5, their investigation resulted in 35 citations for minor consumption, though not all of those cited were students. In looking for ways to enhance safety and security throughout the university community, we believe off-campus parties demand our continued attention.



The police chief for the city of Muncie has also announced that his department would begin "cracking down" on off-campus parties. I do not believe he means that this crackdown will be for just a couple of weeks, either. I believe the Muncie police are committed to a long-term policy of increased patrols in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.



We welcome the city police joining our own efforts to bolster patrols in these neighborhoods. Ball State announced last December that University Police would increase patrols on Friday and Saturday nights, specifically to combat alcohol-related problems including underage drinking, public intoxication, and unlawful and disruptive behaviors arising from excessive alcohol consumption. This has resulted in 48 weekend arrests and citations so far this semester, compared to 9 during the same period of 2003. I do not believe this indicates more students are engaging in illegal behavior, but I do think it shows we're doing a better job of policing those who do. Our efforts on this front will continue. Students cited by campus police for illegal behavior off-campus are subject to the university's disciplinary process.



The city's decision to join our enforcement effort follows an agreement university and city police reached last September. Under the agreement, the city forwards information about students cited or arrested off campus to the university so that those students can also be put through the university's disciplinary process in addition to the county court system.



You should also know that while you were away on spring break, university and city leaders met to discuss some initiatives to take a tougher stance against some of the issues arising from students abusing alcohol and drugs, breaking the law, and being irresponsible residents of off-campus neighborhoods. One result of that meeting is that the information-sharing agreement between the city and the university will be strengthened as the city begins its enhanced enforcement.



The overall message here is this: your behavior, on or off campus, can and will affect your standing with the university. Here's how:

When you break the law, you can face penalties from disciplinary probation to suspension or expulsion.
The university may send you through a counseling program that you pay to attend.
If you are cited twice for alcohol violations, your parents will be notified.
City police will particularly focus on arresting those who supply alcohol to minors or sell alcohol without a license. If you do so, you will go to jail, and the university will proceed directly to considering suspension or expulsion.
If your arrest lands you in court, you face fines of several hundreds of dollars.
Being arrested starts a criminal record for you that is available to potential employers who run background checks.


The consequences of breaking the law are severe. So are the penalties handed out by the university, and we are looking at making them tougher. The city and Ball State are committed to pursuing these initiatives. If this all sounds like a bit much to you, there is a clear alternative, and it goes back to the title of the Daily News editorial-best behavior.



The crackdown is coming, and if you want to avoid penalties, do what the vast majority of our students do: be personally responsible, obey the law, don't abuse drugs or alcohol, and if you live off campus, be a responsible neighbor.



The university has worked hard to raise academic standards and enhance the value of a Ball State degree. We are not going to let the actions of a few tarnish the reputation of the university or allow them to taint the vast majority of students as "guilty-by-association" because they are Ball State students. Take pride in your university, but most of all, take pride in yourselves. The choice is yours-there's too much riding on your future to take a risk.

Fucking great. Because of dumbasses the rest of us are getting fucked.

[ March 22, 2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Mr. Blonde ]

[Elegy]

So you guys go to not only the most dangerous school in Indiana, but soon to be the least fun as well. Neat.

I reccomend transferring.

[Cocktooth]

BSU is a fuck hole....All it does is bread whores...fuck ball state

[Ugly Bastard]

Ah bummer...now I can't go drinking on the weekends.

I guess it's better than being dead.

-Ugly Bastard

That email was rather unprofessional if you ask me.

If you are cited twice for alcohol violations, your parents will be notified.

Are you guys fucking kindergardeners or something?

[Orgazmo]

Originally posted by DJ FC:
Are you guys fucking kindergardeners or something?

Only when toddlers aren't available. HAHA.

[f3lix]

George Orwell's 1984 continues to become more true by the day.

Except the part about the extreme socialist government that hears, sees, and knows all by the year 1984.

[f3lix]

didn't happen by 1984, but the rest is happening

[Trout Sniffer]

Yeah, all this really sucks. Looks like I'm gonna have to cut down on drinking, cause I can't afford a second offense here. Going to court and shit sucks ass.

Luckily, I'm getting my first minor consumption deferred which means that if I don't get in trouble within so long it will go off my record. I'm pretty happy about that. But I also have to get a lawyer for that and pay all the fines and shit so I'm probably looking at around $700. What bullshit. $700 fucking dollars just for drinking. This is way out of line.

[Saint DH]

Yes Trout, you have to pay $700 dollars because you drank a liquid that you are not allowed to drink because you have not been alive long enough. What bullshit.

I'm with trout on this one (seriously).
College drinking is widespread, and everybody knows it. The severity of the punishment should not be high, rather the odds of getting caught should (If they really want to cut down on under-age drinking).
Because I sure as hell am not worried about a $700 fine, who'se going to catch me?

[f3lix]

So what is the solution here? Obviously, college students under 21 are going to drink regardless of the "law". So they'd rather us stay in our dorms and get expelled automatically, rather than get caught outside of the dorms with less consequences...yeah...makes sense.

[Trout Sniffer]

F3lix, you don't get expelled automatically if you get caught in the dorms. In fact, I would wager to say that the consequences can be far less if caught in the dorms. They don't usually turn you into the cops and all that happens is you might have to take an alcohol course or write a paper or something. I have talked to many people that have gotten in trouble in the dorms, but they're all still here at Ball State.

It's rediculous that they blame all that is happening on alcohol. That guy getting robbed had nothing to do with alcohol. They obviously brought a gun to a party before they had touched any alcohol.

Also, shit happens all the time when there is a big group of people, regardless of whether there is alcohol or not. Underage drinking is just a scapegoat for Ball State police and the Muncie PD. Not that they really need one. I have yet to hear a student say that they fear for their life when they walk to class, or even when they go to a party.

[f3lix]

I see it this misfortune as an excuse to go after underaged drinking and all the other shit. Remember how the U.S. used 9/11 as an excuse to go to war with everybody the gov't doesn't like?

[Super Nintendo]

NO. I don't remember that...at all.

[Pliedes]

Originally posted by f3lix:
George Orwell's 1984 continues to become more true by the day.

It actually seems more like Brave New World, in my opinion.

[Saint DH]

I think it's seeming more like Jurassic Park.

[StabMaster Arson]

it kinda reminds me of Bio-Dome