We Thought We Were Safe

Most of feel that we are safe in this SMU bubble that we live in? However, a recent scandal has brought the attention of many as an SMU police officer was accused of sexual harassment of a female policer officer. He has recently been fired by the University. It was after this that female freshman began to step forward about their problems with officer Hightower. Female residences of Boaz said that the police officer would not stop texting them. After investigation of this issue, he is now being prosecuted.

This recent allegation has many parents besides themselves as they thought their children were in a safe environment. But are we? Are police really here to protect us or do they just want to destroy our lives?

Not only is there a concern of safety throughout the student body (especially female) but there is also a distaste for SMU PD's consequences. Last year, tickets and parking citations given by police officers generated half a million dollars in revenue!! Police officers are also not very popular among the freshman as they give out unnecessary and an immense amount of alcohol violations (a mark on your record) that lead to consequences.

For example, my friend Joey last year was in his dorm room after a night of going out with his friends. He had been drinking but was conscious, alert and back and safe in his dorm room. He was by no means acting as a classified DRUNK COLLEGE STUDENT. He walked out of his room to go to the bathroom when a cop stopped him and asked him if he had been drinking. He responded by telling the officer that he just came out of his room to go to the bathroom and had been in his room sleeping. The officer demanded to breathalyze him and my friend refused to take the test as he knew that it would not be a 0.00. The officer then preceded by throwing him against the wall, handcuffing him and putting him in jail for the night. When he was released the next morning, he felt sick and that week was diagnosed with bronchitis. I was disgusted when i heard what my friend had gone through. Aren't police officers there to make sure our student body is safe? My friend Joey was safe sleeping in his room and consequentially came out of his room at the wrong time. He was in no means hurting himself or anyone around him. He even ended up getting sick from it as well as probation on his record.

To me, SMU PD is not looking out for our best interest, they are just on a massive power trip.