The Lighter Side of the Campus Safety Blotter

Becky Snider, ‘09, Blotter Reporter

Well this semester started out as a sprinkling frozen frenzy with a hint of newspaper on the side. What do I mean by this you ask? “Unknown person(s)” took it upon themselves to play a joke. On January 2, a Campus Safety officer discovered a car decorated with sprinkles and newspaper, which just happened to be frozen to the windshield. Perhaps this is someone’s idea of a good birthday present. But if it was my lucky day, I wouldn’t want to spend it undercoating my car.

Cars… well no cars were stolen or broken into over break, Jan term or in the first two weeks of the semester. However, one vehicle miraculously rolled into another parked vehicle in the old gravel parking lot. Cause? “Vehicle Malfunction.” There were minor damages to both vehicles with no personal injuries.

Personal vendettas, on the other hand, seem to be the new thing to do. Equipment was reported to be stolen from the construction site near the Garden Apartments. Two lift fork attachments were taken from the site sometime between February 5 and 6. While this might be a common thing at construction sites, perhaps the students are just seeking revenge. Revenge for what? Well, there is the loud grinding, crushing noises at 7 a.m. Then of course there is the whole mess in general that construction has made between the gym and the Garden Apartments. Revenge or boredom? You be the judge.

Speaking of boredom, a student was documented for multiple violations on January 20 including “student conduct violation, alcohol possession (under 21), dishonesty: providing false information, decency offense: public urination, and failure to comply.” Of course, this should be nothing new, right? However, this incident did not occur outside of Rouzer. Instead the houses on PA Avenue were the new setting for this tradition.

However, Rouzer did indeed have its share of stupidity. Someone unwisely left a stolen Campus Safety sign in visible sight over break. The sign was found by the DoCS on January 25. Stealing a sign from Campus Safety might seem like a good idea at the time, though you just might want to consider hiding things in the future.

And while you’re at it, consider that the fire extinguishers placed conveniently in the dorm rooms are actually there for a reason. So it’s probably not a good idea to throw them through windows after discharging them in the hallway.

If you want to be really creative, don’t follow the example of the “unknown individuals” who decided that it would be really fun to write graffiti on the elevator walls in Whiteford. A DoCS officer responded to a report of graffiti on a wall on February 1 around midnight. “Juvenile comments” written in black permanent marker were discovered to be the cause of complaint. The incident has since been deemed inactive.

On a lighter note, someone has really gotten into the Valentine’s Day spirit. A gentleman left a letter for a student at Campus Safety on February 2. The intended receiver of the letter was caught off guard and not too happy about the situation. Pending the suspicious nature of the incident, Campus Safety will be continuing the investigation into this matter.

Hopefully, McDaniel students have better luck on Valentine’s Day.

Editor’s Note: This weekly piece highlights some of the more inane calls and incidents to which campus safety responds.