Opinions
 

Staff Editorial

Matthew Dulin        Ray Hafner       Geronimo Rodriguez
         Shaun Salnave          Cara Sarelli

News mash

When three UH students are robbed at gunpoint in six days, students and officials need to recognize lives are at stake and things can get uglier than they already are.

Once the thought of having a gun pointed at you enters your mind, the harsh reality flushes away any cloudiness in your mind, and you become more aware of your surroundings.

Itis a shame it takes such experiences to remind us how easy it is for danger and violence to creep onto our campus. Save for those people who wonit go out and work for what they want, or who get thrills from taking school bags and jewelry, the crimes are nobodyis fault.

A full-time student whois on his or her way to a part-time job isnit to blame for failing to check the shadows or spot a mugger on the prowl. Perhaps even the campus police arenit at fault for not being able to patrol all parking lots without a stick-up slipping into the night.

But when three students have been robbed while going to their cars, everyone setting foot on campus should keep their eyes peeled and UHPD should be mapping out a plan to either nab the criminals or provide enough safety to prevent it from happening again.

As of press time, UHPD has not shared any information leading to a definite link between the three robberies. But it did share enough details to give students a heads-up on the suspects. Right now, if students want to keep going to class, this will have to suffice.

But for UHPD, itis time crack down on these night crawlers and keep a fourth mugging from occurring, or better yet, bust out the handcuffs before these frightening robberies turn into deaths. If help is needed, pull out your sketch book, and post those ugly mugs throughout the campus.

Meanwhile, students should keep a few things in mind: Call UHPD at 713-743-3333 with any information you think pertains to these crimes and use Cougar Patrol, which can be reached at the same number as UHPD, when in need of an escort. Most of all donit resist if you are thrown into such a situation.

Remember, emergency numbers and Tae Kwon Do are good to know, but when the barrel of a shotgun is planted on your face, itis best to let them have the wallet and cell phone. So donit resist when it comes to life or death, and donit let a thug keep you from seeing graduation day.

As for the UHPD, let our finest do their best and if they donit, let us ask enough questions to tie up our soon-to-be retired presidentis phone line.
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