Thumbs Up to DE: Coverage of Crime Investigation Makes Front Page

Image source: http://superchief.tv/columns/legal-mugging/

In a previous post, I complained that the campus does far too little to educate -- again and again -- students about avoiding crime in the area. In that post, I asked our daily newspaper, The Daily Egyptian, to report on these stories.

Well, today's issue of the Daily Egyptian has front-page coverage of recent robberies, where they have occurred, and how to prevent becoming a victim of crime on or near campus. The only suggestion I have for the DE is to possibly post the police blotters on their web site. Those of us who check know where crime is more likely to occur but it would help students too.

At any rate, this is a good sign even if it is about the uglier side of humanity. 

SIU Strike: The Movie is Out

A local activist sent the following along for your edification (and anticipation):

Crime? What Crime?

Source: http://bhattlaw.com/ (see here for direct link to image)

Once again, the Southern Illinoisan reports a vicious assault on two people walking on or near campus. The silence from the university administration on "campus safety" is deafening.

Crime in the area is no secret to people outside Anthony Hall or Stone Center. In fact, Carbondale is the most crime-ridden college town in Illinois.

The last time there was such a beating near the SIU Recreation Center, the administration did unexpectedly act--by rushing to say how much (now) President Poshard loves diversity and welcomes African Americans to campus (the alleged assailants were black). The incident was surreal: the victim was lost in the race hysteria while the accused were assigned to a "dean of color" over at the law school (not normal procedure).

If the administration simply wishes the problem will go away, they are kidding themselves. (Trust me: I've been here long enough to hear all the excuses and spinning of crime statistics).

Let's hope that the Daily Egyptian can start running a police blotter for both the campus and Carbondale. Doing a series of articles on crime victims would help too. They have written about every other imaginable group on campus.

Until the administration and Carbondale get this problem under control, SIUC will deserve its reputation, if not as most crime-ridden, then as the "Capital of Denial."