Be on the look out for creepy people doing creepy things.
Two students were mugged early Monday morning in the overflow lot across Tillotson Avenue from Scheumann Stadium.
While the campus crime statistics for 2008 released Thursday show slight changes or drops in most categories, this incident shows that we're not immune from the occasional run-in with a bad guy. This is still a pretty safe campus, but things like this can happen.
We don't have the luxury of relying on Batman to jump out of some shadows for a violent rescue. Were he real, he'd probably spend his time in a more crime-infested area. Nor can we expect University Police officers to be everywhere. They don't have infinite resources and we don't live in a police state. We've been hearing about safety tips as much as we've heard about the evils of sex, drugs and booze for most of our lives. But that doesn't mean we should write them off as useless.
University Police gives us these tips several times a year: Travel in packs when possible, because robbers obviously would have an easier time preying on fewer people; be aware of your surroundings; use the shuttle service when it's running and report suspicious behavior. The last one is tricky. We don't want to cry wolf or profile anyone, but we should employ the judgment we should have by now.
While students should take precautions to be safe, the university could help a bit more. It installed 12 cameras in four parking lots in October 2007. It was a $150,000 project. Two of them were installed in the stadium overflow lot where Monday's robbery occurred, two more are at the stadium lot and four are at the nearby Alumni Center lot. However, that's a big area and it could probably use a few more. The money could come from the ridiculous amount Parking Services gets from fines and tickets.
Money shouldn't be a problem, though. Ball State has a seemingly endless fund for aesthetics. It recently installed an electronic sign in front of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center and it has plans to build a few more around campus, on top of other noticeable (and appreciated, don't think we're ungrateful) projects. While campus beautifications are important, safety might have the trump card.
It took students' repeated demands and an attempted abduction to get cameras installed in those parking lots two years ago. With something like this, it would be better to install more before they are demanded again.
This isn't an everyday, or even every month, thing. But incidents like this point out that it can happen any time.
So until crime is completely deterred from our campus, be ever vigilant; keep your eyes peeled, your ears open and be safe, kids.
Read More
Start your summer with enjoying events in Muncie
By Ball State Daily / 4 hours agoLooking for summer fun in Muncie? The ECI events page features a variety of upcoming activities, from game nights and gardening to spaghetti dinners, model aircraft flying, and free yoga sessions, many events are free. Explore the events and discover something for everyone this season!
Capital Chronicle: ACLU sues governor’s office over change to IU board of trustees
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 9 hours agoJust one day after Gov. Mike Braun signed the state’s next two-year budget into law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit to halt a provision slipped last-minute into the must-pass legislation last month.
IPR: Ball State gives land to Muncie for new neighborhood park
By Indiana Public Radio / YesterdayBall State University and Muncie officials say they’ll create a neighborhood park with land surrounding a former school building that’s now Ball State-owned. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.
