UAPD’s misplaced priorities threaten safety

Since my first week at the U of A, I have been asking myself a very simple question. In one of the United States’ top 50 crime ridden cities, why are the police on campus more concerned with writing crosswalk tickets than they are with the homeless men attempting to piggyback into the dorms? It seems awfully backwards that a homeless, convicted criminal was able to make it to the elevator of Coronado Residence Hall, but I can name at least five people who have received tickets for over $100 for failing to use the crosswalk. It’s no secret that the area surrounding this university is dangerous. Many students, including myself, carry pepper spray or other sorts of protection with them while walking around our very public campus. I speak for others and myself when I say that I do NOT, however, carry my canister of pepper spray when I am in my own dorm — nor should I feel as though I have to. It is my honest opinion that the police stationed both on and around this campus should be focusing on more than just giving out MIPs and busting frat parties. The real danger lies not with the student on a bicycle who failed to stop at a stop sign but with the men and women who are attempting to make their way into college students’ bedrooms.

— Jade Manzi, Psychology freshman

Lack of humor hinders movement

In response to Jennifer Hoefle’s letter to the editor (April 8): I had the pleasure of working alongside the author of “”Fabulous Takeover”” (April 1). I can assure Ms. Hoefle that his article “”Fabulous Takeover”” was not intended to ridicule or otherwise offend the gay community. He is a thoughtful, open-minded individual who, presumably, just wanted to make his readers laugh. I understand Ms. Hoefle’s concerns and applaud her efforts in protecting the gay community. As a member of that same community, I am intimately aware of the rejection and abuse gay individuals have suffered at the hands of their friends and especially family members. However, I would like to share with her a piece of wisdom that has proven valuable to me: Pick your battles. Calling the gay community to arms over every stereotype, every gay joke and every potentially offensive comment uttered without malicious intent is not going to further our progress toward equality and may even exacerbate the conflict over gay rights. We need to learn how to laugh at ourselves. Sometimes the stereotypes are harmless. Sometimes they are not. We must make that distinction if we want to see genuine progress.

— Kelli Rockandel, Ecology and evolutionary biology senior