Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

Ed De La Garza        Josh Gajewski       Nikie Johnson
         Geronimo Rodriguez          Keenan Singleton

Happy Holidays … and beware the library

The holiday season is upon us. Itis the time for giving, the time for caring, the time for harmony ­ unless of course, youire a scumbag who feels the need to prey on students studying at the library for their impending finals.

Of the 14 crimes reported to the UH Police Department last week that occurred on campus property, five were of things getting stolen from the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library.

Although things get stolen from people in the library all the time, thatis a much higher percentage than usual.

The reason is probably that the library is now open later hours than usual, and more people are in the library than usual, studying for finals and researching for papers.

To compound that, those studying are probably more tired and stressed out than normal ­ ideal conditions for a thief looking to take advantage.

However, theft in the library is pretty easy to prevent. Donit assume that because itis quiet, itis safe. Donit leave your personal items ­ especially your purse, wallet or cell phone ­ out, even for a minute, when you get up for a book, to make copies or to take a bathroom break. If you get up, take your things with you.

If you see anyone suspicious in the library, move away from that area. And if you think you might have seen someone taking someone elseis stuff, get a good look at the possible thief and report it to UHPD ­ there are call boxes all over the library.

It just takes a little awareness of your surroundings to keep yourself and your possessions safe.

So try to escape the library thieves and all the stress of finals, and enjoy the winter break.

After all, itis been a long semester, and we all deserve a month away from tests, papers and searching for a parking space.

For those students graduating in December, congratulations; we wish you the best, and we all hope to follow in your footsteps one of these semesters.

And please ­ if youire a graduate in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, donit bring more than the allotted six guests. Itis understandable wanting everyone you know to see you graduate, but donit bring so many people that someone elseis family wouldnit get to share the day.