This school needs a dose of respect

In the last five years, I have had items stolen or vandalized more times than I can count. Car stereos, bikes, holiday decorations, purses, propane tanks – you name it, I’ve had it stolen from me. I’m not so naïve as to think I’m a helpless victim. In the beginning, I knew there were things I could have done to protect myself. But these most recent burglaries have me thinking that maybe it is just the universe. Or maybe it’s just that the Boise State community has a certain lack of respect for one another’s property. Here are a few of the highlights:

- Fall 2003 – I enter my first semester at Boise State as a silly 17-year-old. I park my car in the stadium lot one day and leave the doors unlocked. Stupid mistake. I also don’t want to carry my purse around all day, so I hide it underneath my car seat. Now, I admit that’s just dumb, but I was young. My purse, all its contents and all the spare change in my ashtray were gone within one hour. 

- Spring 2007 – I’ve replaced my purse, credit cards, etc. and now lock my car everyday. While it’s parked on Michigan Avenue, someone jimmies the passenger door open, takes my $18 Walmart CD player, all the change in my ashtray (again) and about half a dozen $1 scratch tickets. For God’s sake.

- Winter 2007 – My brother and I are living in the University Square apartments. Someone comes by our door and rips down our Chanukah decorations. Now, that’s just hateful.

- Spring 2007 – I ride my bike to work at The Arbiter. My boyfriend picks me up for dinner in his car, and we leave my bike locked up in front of the office. When I return, my bike is gone. Around 10 other bike thefts are reported on campus that weekend. The cops say there is literally nothing they can do. I purchase a new $99 bike from Walmart in the hopes of deterring thieves.

- Summer 2008 – My boyfriend and I move into the Morrison Park apartments directly across the street from the university. I’d say 75 percent of the residents are Boise State students. Within three weeks of moving in, someone unzips the saddle bag on my boyfriend’s bike and takes his bike pump and about $30 in bike wrenches.

- Fall 2008 – We are still living across from campus and have purchased a small gas grill for our 3 ft by 3 ft patio. We come home from work at The Arbiter last Sunday to discover that someone has stolen the camping-size, off-brand, quarter-full propane tank. Not the grill, they just unscrewed the tank. I wish I was joking.

Now like I said, there are things I could have done over the years to protect myself. That’s what the police say and the people who’ve never had anything happen to them. I should have purchased a stronger bike lock, I shouldn’t leave spare change in my ashtray, we shouldn’t leave our grill on the porch or decorate for the holidays.

But what this really comes down to is respect. People don’t steal mini-propane tanks and bike pumps and $1 scratch tickets because they need to feed their families (you wouldn’t get $2 at a pawn shop for my car stereo). They steal because they can, because they’re bored.

To the many people who’ve robbed me over the years: get a job, get a hobby, read a book, learn a language. Anything. You can do so knowing there’s nothing left to take from me. I don’t even own a car anymore.

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
Managing Editor

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