As alarming as the Monday
night rape case is, I find the
attitude of Security Director
W. Wade Bromwell still more
alarming. His self-satisfied,
do-nothing viewpoint threatens
the safety of every coed
walking the grounds after
sunset.
How can he state that the
University is adequately
patrolled when, according to
Police Chief Rea Houchens,
there was a patrolman in the
immediate vicinity of the crime
who did not see or hear
anything? This fact alone is
evidence that if more
manpower is not needed, then
a set of eyes and ears should be
issued to every patrolman.
Dean of Students Robert
Canevari expressed surprise
that the incident occurred at
such an early hour. Surprise!
Crime does not occur only
after midnight. The fact is that
as soon as darkness falls the
only safe thing to do is to stay
home. He also expressed regret
that the unfortunate victim did
not call the escort service.
What chance would one man
stand against four?
Mr. Bromwell seems more
interested in enforcing parking
regulations than in preventing
violent assault on University
coeds, as is evidenced by the
ever-present policemen writing
out tickets during daylight
hours. I fall to see the same
sort of dedication in action at
night.
As director of the security
department, I would think that
his job would include both,
and I would hope that sparing
coeds the shattering experience
of forcible rape would have
priority over the issuing of
parking citations. I suggest that
Mr. Bromwell ask the victim of
Monday's crime what she
thinks of his security measures.
In the meantime, I feel that
Mr. Bromwell's failure to assign
additional night-time patrols
helps to make the Grounds an
inviting spot for criminals –
and a nightmarish hell for their
victims.
Alison Hardy Ingram
Engr. 3
