The theft of three laptops and iPods from McDowell Hall on Tuesday was the third such incident on campus in the last few weeks. Similar incidents of burglary have been reported in Hughes and Anderson halls. While it is a shame that this had to happen to any student, every student should know that he is responsible for his own belongings.
We live in a dorm environment here at AU, and it involves many people sharing a confined space. Therefore, no one should ever assume that his personal effects are totally secure. Your neighbors, friends and acquaintances see you and your property, and this far in a semester can know your schedule.
Unfortunately, theft is not a new phenomenon at AU. Things are reported stolen all the time, and the number of people passing through campus on tours and business lends itself to a greater likelihood of theft. Also, Washington is an urban center, and the rules of suburbia are not very applicable in such a setting.
It is a shame that people take advantage of their fellow students at such a great school with so many opportunities ahead of us. Students have a lot of freedom on this campus, as opposed to some schools that have strict honor codes, like having students document when they find $2 on the steps or a pencil on a desk. College is very much like the real world, and with it comes real responsibilities.
It should be remembered that theft is a crime of opportunity and that it is each student's responsibility to make sure the odds are with him. Now that these burglaries have touched all parts of campus, one hopes that students will begin to secure their valuables and, most importantly, lock their doors.
