Miami Student

Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Editorials

Oxford Police Dept. practice hypocritical enforcement

It's disappointing to hear about this latest tragedy with a Miami University student killed by a train. In the past six months, two CSX trains have rumbled through town-their operators seemingly unaware of indelible marks left on Oxford. Perhaps engineers ought to keep a sharper eye on the road as they pass through quiet burgs, but that is a discussion for another day.

My concern is with the irony of the situation in Oxford. While students stand trial for contributing to their friend's unfortunate fatal accident by railroad mishap, it seems the very

entity behind the prosecution could have contributed to this most recent railroad incident. At first glance, whatever charges are being brought against the students for their role in their friend's death must be based upon some duty of care they owed to their friend. Contributing to the illegal intoxication of another, who subsequently goes out and is severely injured by a train-likely due to her illegal intoxication-is a crime according to Oxford law enforcement.

OK. What about the well-established duty that Oxford law enforcement owes to persons they arrest or substantially detain?

If they released an individual after citing them for possession and use of an illegal substance, and that individual goes out and gets severely harmed, likely due to such use of illegal substance, can't the same argument be made for breach of that duty of care?

I should think so.

And who is in a better position to understand and satisfy that duty, a few drunk friends whose job is to go out and experience college, or a police department, whose job is to protect the citizens, even from their own stupidity?

I hope the vigor with which the Oxford law enforcement community has pursued the case against Beth Spiedel's friends isn't lost in the mirror.

Tim Schirmang
t_schirmang@yahoo.com


Local civic group uses ASG for its own desire

Miami University Associated Student Government (ASG) met Oct. 2 and was visited by two local citizens who simply wish to use Miami students to pass a huge local tax increase for schools. I think this is immoral. This is a decision for local residents. If passed, the tax increase on both property and on income will be on the books for years, long after current Miami students are gone from Oxford.

Those of us who are opposed to this particular school issue want good schools for our children just as much as those who favor this issue. We simply do not agree that this current plan is best. Again, it is an issue that should be decided by us locals.

Shirley Burgher
Hamilton, Ohio


Squirrel abuse reveals true character of students

I was walking by Irvin Hall Tuesday afternoon on my way to King Library when I came upon two fine gentlemen having a great time attempting to peg each other with rotten crab apples. One of them took note of a squirrel gnawing on an acorn beneath a tree. He made a motion to get his friend's attention, and then hurled a crab apple at the squirrel. A direct hit. The poor thing dropped its nut and scrambled up the tree, while the young men slapped each other a noisy high five and laughed in a way that proved that some college-age boys have not evolved very far yet.

I'm not a member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or anything, but the look that I gave these individuals clearly expressed my feelings on their treatment of that squirrel. One of them replied with a phrase that I refuse to repeat, and then they both watched me walk away, their gazes firmly affixed to my backside.

To those two gentlemen, if they happen to be reading-what was the point of that? What did it prove? That you're big, tough men? Were you establishing your superiority over other warm-blooded creatures, or your place at the top of the food chain?

And if you find so much amusement in doing that to a squirrel, how do you treat your family pet? Your parents? Your siblings? How will you treat your future wife and children? I can guarantee you that no self-respecting girl-even one who's three sheets to the wind-would give you a second glance if she saw what I saw.

I'm sure you both possess some redeeming qualities but, for a brief moment on a rainy afternoon, those were outweighed by an unnecessary and potentially destructive act. No wonder those awful young people nowadays get such a bad rap-when you act this way, you're the poster boys for the stereotype. Nobody is amused.

Nobody is impressed. It's a disheartening display, especially when it's coming from people who are old enough to know better, smart enough to go to Miami University, and supposed to be setting examples.

But when I got to King, I approached the front door behind another young man, who held it open when he saw me coming, smiled, and looked me in the face, not elsewhere. Maybe there's hope for the college-age male after all.
 
Beth Sawicki
sawickel@muohio.edu

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