Partying Too Hearty
The University of Virginia has been badly stunned by the murder of a young woman by her former boyfriend. Both were students about to graduate. He beat her to death, smashing her head against a wall. It’s not known if he was drunk at the time. He had been arrested for a drunken encounter with the police a year earlier. A considerable portion of the UVa lacrosse team had been in trouble for drinking. And this particular student had been involved in another attack, only a year ago, this against s sleeping teammate.
Which raises the question of just what types of conduct are allowed on college campuses these days, for surely the Charlottesville school, otherwise esteemed for its pristine and haute société image, is not alone in its problems. Indeed, many schools, while not plagued with murders, have myriad crimes that they manage to hush up.
That’s because in many communities the bastions of higher education are also significant revenue producers. Faculty and students often find housing off campus. They shop for their essentials at the local retail establishments; they eat, drink and make merry. So usually there is a tacit understanding that the law enforcement folks, if a situation arises in their jurisdiction, will frequently take the offenders and deliver them to the school authorities where wrist-slapping is altogether more frequent than significant punishment.
The failure to impose serious discipline on the students is similarly driven by financial incentives. Few students who are attracted to party schools are going to enroll if such institutions are instead known for draconian rules. I mean like duh, they’re not going to college to learn...not at the vast majority of schools. They’re going to get degrees so they can get jobs with companies that don’t expect much. Tragically.
Both the students and our country would be a lot better off if schools bounced miscreants and returned to the purpose of education.
©2010 SetonnoteS
.