Words from the Wise: a case against Campus Safety

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1. Josh Kristianto

   hahaha October 22, 2012

2. Dan

   Thank you for pointing all this out. I'm glad we can have a discussion about this. Campus Safety is a pain. Let's lower the staff and cut back on those parking fees. We already pay enough. October 22, 2012

3. Emily

   No. I’m sorry, there are a number of statements here that just seem angry, flippant, and irresponsible to me (Ex: “If someone parked in my spot, I’d go al-Qaida on him.” What?!). It’s disappointing to see this published under the heading “Words from the Wise.” These words convey a spirit of sarcasm and arrogance, not wisdom; nor do they reflect a full knowledge or understanding of the many things monitored and maintained by our helpful, hard-working Campus Safety staff. I’ve worked here for five years and have only ever had positive encounters with members of this department. If your experience has been different, I have to believe that says more about you than them. October 23, 2012

4. Paul

   "and the stupidity of supporting a cultist for president (has anyone considered that Christian touchstone issues — Israel, abortion and marriage — just MIGHT include HOW A CANDIDATE FEELS ABOUT JESUS — e.g., he’s not Satan’s brother!)."
   
   - It's unfortunate that your vote counts the same as mine and that you felt it necessary to plug your political views.
   
   - It's also unfortunate that your 20 year old son was irresponsible and chose to take something that wasn't his and run into a wall. It seems he wasn't raised to take responsibility for his own actions. After all, daddy called the president.
   
   - It is sooooo difficult for staff to get a parking permit. After all, they're free and all you have to do is place a sticker on your vehicle.
   
   #Ifyouonlyhadaclue October 23, 2012

5. Swanson

   Let me first say that this article is very well written. I would not expect anything less from an English Adjunct; kudos to you. However your opinions, which you are freely entitled to, are somewhat disturbing.
   
   Please let me elaborate. The poodles are quite clear this year. And the pumpkins are great at manufacturing. The fact that the seeds are manipulating the tires is only a coincidence. Please bear in mind that your keys are only going to get wet after the sun comes out.
   
   I don't mean to be rude but your phone smells and it is quite pleasant. I only say this to inform you of the fallibility of your pens. In your defense, I grant that the coffee is quite sweet and that is entirely a great point.
   
   I only ask in the future to refrain from using the blinds as a sweater. Please do so with kindness and respect for all living ants. It is also important to take into consideration the totality of circumstances when understanding these claims of elephants at the zoo. They are quickly gaining credibility. Have a great muffin.
   October 23, 2012

6. Laura

   It seems like this was meant to be sarcastic, though I am still left scratching my head as to its true purpose. It might have been a good idea to preface it, since some people are taking this seriously. October 23, 2012

7. Beck

   I don't like campus safety, but this article is stupid. October 23, 2012

8. Emily

   The whole point of sarcasm is to express contempt for something while hiding behind a mask of humor. Laura, I think you're right in identifying this article as sarcastic, but that's exactly what's wrong with it. Even if this was meant as a joke, it's still a joke at someone else's expense and that's not something we should be okay with. October 24, 2012

9. John Kruckenberg

   I'm so glad Larry is still popping bubbles and pushing boundaries. October 24, 2012

10. Shaefer

    Hey guys-
    I'm the editor of this section. I asked Professor Smith to write, and published this piece. As such, I wanted to clear some things up.
    
    There is a difference between sarcasm and overstatement. Sarcasm is done with the intent to hurt. It is, as Emily says, a joke at other's expense.
    
    What this piece is an example of is overstatement. Professor Smith overstated both the arguments for and against Campus Safety to highlight the problems and humor in both.
    
    To the people who commented, thank you for reading. I look for pieces that will spur conversation, and this article has done that.
    
    However, to Paul, I would caution you against speaking the way that you did. Resorting to anger weakens any argument, and making personal attacks (directed at his parenting? really?) is not only rude and ineffective, but wildly un-Christlike. Just a thought. October 24, 2012

11. Emily

    Hi Schaefer. Thanks for clarifying. I appreciate the attempt to present a topic creatively and do understand using overstatement to highlight certain aspects of a topic. Do you feel though that this particular attempt was successful? Since the conversation it spurred was not about the reasons for or against having Campus Safety but instead was about how the article itself was written. Perhaps, as Laura suggested, some sort of preface would have been helpful. Just a thought for next time.
    
    Personally, I would argue for having a private security staff like we do. The reality is that trained responders who are already on campus are in a position to answer emergency calls sooner than those who would have to drive here from somewhere else in the neighborhood. I also believe that the County Sheriff's Department recommends institutions having their own security staff and emergency plans, as they know their own staff is already spread too thin.
    
    I'm sure that the few individuals who have ever felt unsafe and called on Campus Safety (whether it was to escort them to their car after dark, detain someone who posed a threat, or train them in how to safely respond during an earthquake or blackout) would attest to their being useful members of our community.
    
    As far as their role in parking enforcement goes, university campuses are like mini-versions of the world and in the microcosm of Biola, Campus Safety represents the law, providing students with opportunities to practice obeying the law or facing the consequences when they don't. It's part of the life training that occurs alongside the academic education and, I would argue, a rather important part. But I’m curious to hear what others think.
    
    Thanks again for clearing up the confusion.
    October 24, 2012

12. Joseph

    I think Campus Safety is wonderful department and does a terrific job of keeping campus safe.
    
    Now having said that, I LOVED this piece. It was funny, edgy, over the top and downright controversial.
    
    I think there are bigger themes being spoken about than the practicality of a campus police. This article is about eliminating campo, but at the same time, isn't.
    
    I think professor Smith is trying to highlight the areas where Biola overspends and the ways we can reach out to our community to improve it. Last year Campus safety began using bikes to increase mobility, this year they got three-wheeled segways. Biola isn't a huge campus and doesn't have the terrain that would require such devices. That money can be used to improve the problems on campus, such as parking.
    
    There are more important things at stake than whether or not someone parks in the wrong spot that beg these kinds of questions. It is just unfortunate that Campus Safety has to take the brunt of Larry's attack. October 24, 2012

13. Paul

    Schaefer,
    
    Did you somehow miss the point of my comment??? It was to 'overstate' the obvious. What is the definition of 'is'.
    
    The thing that is most annoying is trying to plug your political views in an article that has nothing to do with politics. October 24, 2012

14. Paul #2

    Schaefer I figured you would be part of this..... Just accept this was a bad article. It is unacceptable for this piece to be in the chimes. Please try to publish pieces that don't always push your liberal agenda.....
    
    Quote from article: stupidity of supporting a cultist for president (has anyone considered that Christian touchstone issues — Israel, abortion and marriage — just MIGHT include HOW A CANDIDATE FEELS ABOUT JESUS — e.g., he’s not Satan’s brother!).
    
    October 25, 2012

15. JDCW

    ^Well, that escalated quickly. October 25, 2012

16. Jason

    This was excellent. Thank you.
    
    Just a brief word on campus safety. During my first week as a Biola transfer, happy--giddy, even--as can be to be at such a beautiful little private Christian campus, I get a phone call from campus safety, which I miss, because I am in the Caf with my new friends from Emerson. They leave a voice-mail. After listening to it, my heart beats a little faster. With eerie, sort of elusive voices, they tell me that they want me to call them immediately. I do, and they request to see me in their office after I am done in the Caf. So I quickly finish my meal and walk over to there as requested.
    
    The head of campus safety sits me down in his office and asks me if I own a **** Ford ********. I tell him that, yes, I do own that car. He asks me if I was driving it yesterday around ****. I rack my brain for the answer and retort an undecided... "yes." He asks me if I had passengers (at this point I realize he KNOWS if I had passengers or not). I tell him yes again, and he proceeds to say that someone in my car gave a campus safety officer what I'll affectionately call "the birdy."
    
    Now to make matters a little more hilarious, the song "Pumped Up Kicks" had just come out and the passengers in my car were obsessed with it. If you recall, the chorus goes, "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run baby run, outrun my gun..."
    
    Well, my passengers had shockingly decided, while passionately singing his heart out, to make the sign of a gun in his hands as the music mentions outrunning this "gun."
    
    Of course, I don't remember these details until after my little sit-down with campus safety, but I did assure them that the friends in my car were not the type of people to use "offensive" (however totally legal) gestures to campus safety. He didn't believe a word. It seems I was able to outrun his gun, though, as he let me off with a warning. It said, though, that it was inappropriate to do on our little Christian campus. October 25, 2012

17. Jason

    Entirely true story. My imagination isn't that good. October 25, 2012

18. Jason

    Paul, as a registered Republican, I find it a little ironic to hear "liberal agenda" used so often by members of our party, as though we do not have a "conservative agenda." Which we push, without regard for how agenda-like that may be. Just a thought! October 25, 2012

19. Paul

    Jason,
    
    I don't believe I've seen any article on cooking throw out some negative comments on Pastor Wright, Bill Ayers, or Frank Davis...maybe I just missed it. October 25, 2012

20. Jason

    Paul,
    
    That's a good example of how conservatives don't push their agenda, not that they don't push their agenda. My point is that they do, and if it's a matter of method, then I abdicate kindness above all. Both sides struggle with that at times. October 25, 2012

21. Mr. Smith

    @Jason,
    
    It's quite funny what your brain forgets and remembers in those moments.
    
    After my little sit-down with campo two years ago, I walked away remembering all the legal advice I know as well as what I should have said and not said.
    
    Hindsight sucks. October 25, 2012

22. Jason

    Doesn't it! October 25, 2012

23. John Kruckenberg

    Well the Pauls just sucked this entire thread downhill... October 25, 2012

24. Danny

    This article was in poor taste. Imagine the several girls who over the past couple of years have been victims of strange men creeping on them in restrooms and the darkened alleys of Biola. Imagine how they feel about Campus Safety helping them out, getting the strange men off campus and making sure that the girls' safety and security is well off. I'm sure those girls wouldn't have the same sense of security if we had more lights.
    
    I understand this article is not intended to be taken literally, but unfortunately articles from "news sources" usually are taken literally. After all the Chimes is supposed to be the news. Yes it is an opinion piece, however the Chimes is still Biola's student run newspaper.
    
    Once again the Chimes has lost some credibility in my eyes. It has gradually turned to my weekly source of humor, not news. October 26, 2012

25. Danny

    After re-reading the article and the comments I felt that I had more to say.
    
    Prof. Smith,
    I do not know your actual views on campus safety, and while I am certainly not a fan of everything they do, I do believe that the safety of Biola students are one of their highest priorities.
    
    Shaefer,
    I do not believe Paul comment was in anger, I did not sense any anger, just some disrespect. However I think Paul did make at least one good point. In college we are supposed to learn about ourselves and about the real world. The real world includes responsibilities for one's own action. If Prof. Smith's son hijacked the president's cart and caused damage, then he should have to take responsibility for it. By having his father bail him out, he learns that he can do whatever he wants and his father will bail him out. When it comes to the real world, this will never be the case. While Paul did not convey this in the most respectful of ways, it is still a good point.
    
    Jason,
    Your experience with Campus safety was unfortunate. They seem to have treated you like a 5-yr-old, which is wrong. Campus safety should be concerned with the safety of the students, staff and faculty. They should not berate students because one of their officers got their feelings hurt by something that allegedly happened. October 26, 2012

26. Quinn

    This article just made my entire week better. Thank you Chimes! October 26, 2012

27. Nicole

    I personally loved this article, mostly because I noticed right away that it was written tongue-in-cheek and NOT meant to be taken completely seriously. And since it was published in the OPINIONS section, it in no way lowers the credibility of the NEWS section of the Chimes.
    
    So how did the Chimes go wrong here? Short answer: they didn't. Long answer: They did exactly what an opinions section of a newspaper should do. First, they featured the wisdom of a professor whose hilarious sense of humor might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Second, this piece created feedback and CONVERSATION (although some of it was shockingly rude for professing Christians).
    
    To those who took such personal offense to this article: loosen up, and maybe next time you can catch the humor in thoughtful sarcasm and overstatement.
    
    But honestly, Chimes and Opinions -
    
    BEST ARTICLE EVER October 26, 2012

28. Michael Scott

    Hey Paul #1...... http://youtu.be/23ND3FKlT_k
    
    And I think we need to all listen to Nicole. Calm down people. It's an opinion. And it's funny. :)
    
    #IGotAClue October 26, 2012

29. Danny

    I think we should give thanks to the people who devote their careers to the safety of others, not give them sarcasm and overstatements.
    October 26, 2012

30. Danny

    Nicole,
    
    You are right, it is an opinion piece and should not lower the credibility of the Chimes. I will give you that one.
    
    However, is this really Prof. Smith's opinion, or is it just meant for humor? I'd like to know what Prof. Smith's honest opinion is, if they choose to put it in the opinion section. Humor can be achieved without overstatement and sarcasm.
    
    Also, you say you found some of the comments "shockingly rude for professing Christians," did you read the article?
    
    October 26, 2012

31. Nicole

    Danny,
    
    Yes, I consider personal attacks ("after all, daddy called the president") and ("please try to publish pieces that don't always push your liberal agenda" - how does this push a liberal agenda anyway??) shockingly rude. Especially when, as the first comment was, directed against a professor who we as students should respect.
    
    And yes, I did read the article several times. There is a difference between rude personal attacks and good-natured sarcasm. October 26, 2012

32. John Kruckenberg

    "Humor can be achieved without overstatement and sarcasm."
    
    Yes. But overstatement is just so much more fun.
    
    Seriously, like Nicole said, lighten up. I know personally that Larry does not wish ill upon any of the Campus Safety.
    
    "I think we should give thanks to the people who devote their careers to the safety of others, not give them sarcasm and overstatements."
    
    We should thank them for what safety they do provide, but like Larry does so effectively, we should point out where they are being excessive and where resources are being wasted. New segways right after we just bouhgt a bunch of bikes for them. Like actual legitimate police departments, Campus Safety is growing and turning into Big Brother. I appreciate Larry's exposition and humorous critique of something I feel has gotten to big. October 27, 2012

33. Danny

    Nicole,
    
    I never said that some of the comments were not disrespectful, in fact I directly said that they were disrespectful (see comment 25 in my response to Shaefer). I believe Paul had a good point, but he made it in an incorrect way ("daddy called the president"). He also had disrespect that was unwarranted ("please try to publish pieces that don't always push your liberal agenda"). I will not disrespect someone for having differing political views than myself.
    
    I merely stated that there was disrespect in the article itself. "eliminate timid faithless ones before they even set foot on campus","Biola Barrio" The biggest disrespect, "Christian fads and trends — ... the stupidity of supporting a cultist for president" (this is the liberal agenda Paul was referencing). Just in this last quote alone Prof. Smith was disrespectful to myself, countless of Biola students, staff, and faculty, republicans in general and Gov. Mitt Romney himself. Why should he comment on politics on an article about Campus Safety?
    
    John,
    "But overstatement is just so much more fun. "
    An opinion, not an argument.
    
    "I know personally that Larry does not wish ill upon any of the Campus Safety."
    Ok, but I don't, my only basis on Prof. Smith's personally views are in this article. This article tells me that he hates them.
    
    "we should point out where they are being excessive and where resources are being wasted."
    I agree completely, I said constantly in Comment 25 that I do think everything they do is necessary. The segways are ridiculous. However, some of Prof. Smith's points are things that Campus Safety should be worried about, i.e. darkened alleys,safety, rules, parking. I understand that it was in jest, but theres no reason to disrespect people who work for our safety.
    
    Shaefer,
    I realize you probably won't read this, but I'll post it anyways.
    
    I know you strive for controversy, and you certainly attained that with this article. However, when I come to the Opinion section, I would like to read honest opinions.
    
    Also I find it interesting that you publish an article disrespecting Campus Safety, and two days later publish an article telling us not to disrespect Conference Speakers(http://chimes.biola.edu/story/2012/oct/25/staff-editorial-disrespectful-behavior-conferences/).
    A day after the Conference speaker article, you publish one telling us to respect service staff (http://chimes.biola.edu/story/2012/oct/26/biolans-should-rethink-how-they-treat-service-staf/).
    October 27, 2012

34. Danny

    I typed out a huge comment, but the website didn't put it up, so I'll try to condense
    
    Nicole,
    The comments were disrespectful, I never said they weren't. However, at several points Prof. Smith's own comments were disrespectful. Calling for the disbandment of an office that serves to protect us is disrespectful, whether in jest or not. The objective of sarcasm is to not be good-natured.
    
    "Christian fads and trends — ... the stupidity of supporting a cultist for president" that's the liberal agenda Paul was referencing. It also disrespects myself, many Biolan students, staff, faculty, mormons, republicans and Gov. Mitt Romney. Why does a political comment belong in an article about Campus safety? I think that attacking one because of their views is wrong, attack the views, not the person.
    
    John,
    I agree, the segways are stupid. However, there are certain things Campus safety should worry about, darkened alleys, safety, rules and parking are included. There are several comments in the article that I find humorous. " Razor Scooters would be banned to improve our “nerd coefficient” for “US News.” If Corey’s cart was stolen, as a runner, he could chase down the perps himself." Very funny
    
    Shaefer,
    I come to the opinion section to read honest opinions, a news source should be honest. Also I find it interesting that you publish this article disrespecting Campus Safety, then tell us we should not disrespect Conference speakers (http://chimes.biola.edu/story/2012/oct/25/staff-editorial-disrespectful-behavior-conferences/) or service staff (http://chimes.biola.edu/story/2012/oct/26/biolans-should-rethink-how-they-treat-service-staf/)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    October 27, 2012

35. Jerry Lewis

    LOL. I read all the above, and as I freqently tell my boyfriend, I had a good time.
    
    And it reminded me to vote--for Barry Obama, a great man with a great spirit. October 27, 2012

36. Ryan

    Nicole,
    
    Simmer down. You're being a goober. October 29, 2012

37. larry smith

    Apparently, my article didn't accomplish what I had sought: dialog! So, to clear the air:
    
    A. I didn't bail my son out when he smashed up Pres. Cook's cart. I knew nothing about the incident till my wife and I received a letter along with 4 other parents from the then-CS director, including a bill for $3000. No golf cart is worth $15,000 so I contacted the director, explaining that my son would pay fair and reasonable compensation. He didn't budge so I wrote to Dr. Cook. That's when he offered to waive the fee (we wrote a check for $300 anyway) and took the director behind the woodshed; it seems a string of complaints had piled up and ours was just one. My son got an earful and paid us back but that's not the point. To focus on that aspect of my article is the worst sort of red herring/ad hominum critique.
    
    2. To imply that Shaefer Bagwell, who I do not know personally, would push an agenda through me is to denigrate him and make me look like a lacky. 2 years ago, I have a couple of "Words to the Wise" columns an said yes to Mr. Bagwell when he had another prof bail. Agenda?
    
    3. What journalism rule prevents a columnist from taking birdwalks into politics? My choice was to write a column about the danger of evangelicals legitimatizing a cult by supporting a Mormon for high office(even BILLY GRAHAM swallowed the Koolaid) and causing seekers to now believe that a tool of Satan (LDS)is now apparently an acceptable alternative to Calvary Chapel or EV Free. To me, that's scary and I felt I needed to at least drop a bomb to wake people up.
    
    4. My real feelings about Campus Safety? Immaterial -though I get concerned when any institution w/in an institution appears to be running parallel to the college itself. Who's in charge here? Who's monitoring the guys/girls in uniform on their new trikes? We need to ask questions of we become a police state (sorry about the pathetic metaphor).
    
    5. My daughter was once the Chimes editor and worked very late, so I am cognizant of safety issues. I am also aware that people overreact to the danger that our students face in La Mirada. Last time I checked, the Lord is ultimately our protector. I also teach at a junior college in a nasty section of LA and their "police" force is a fraction the size of Biola's.
    
    6. For those who think I'm a ranting maniac who has nothing better do than throw hard-working cops under the bus, please scroll down a page or 2 and read the article featuring a photo of Chantelle Gibbs playing the piano. You might get a picture of who I am and what I do.
    
    So, keep your letters coming; even if you are so uptight that it sounds like you were toilet trained at gunpoint, that's what democracy is all about. This is town hall at its best: where the passionate, the proud, and the pathetic are all given their moment in the sun to express their dismay, their praise, or their horror. But, think before you rant; otherwise you'll sound like me!
    
    Lord bless you all,
    LSmith October 29, 2012

38. Paul

    Mr. Smith,
    
    What is your opinion on Reverend Wright's theology? Apparently it is acceptable. October 29, 2012

39. larry smith

    Paul:
    
    Sorry, my friend, I'm not totally taking your bait. You are mixing apples and oranges, Mormons and crazy Christians. If you want some political comfort food, Sean Hannity can give you a plate full.
    
    If you want to understand who Jeremiah Wright was/is, do some objective reading, including that of professors of religion at research institutions. If you're implying that President Obama buys the extreme racist views of Rev. Wright, you're missing the big picture and not thinking objectively. I hate much of what Wright says...but, I have also sat under pastors who threw Muslims under the bus in their pandering over Israel, those who subjugate women in their congregations, and those who held all sorts of views that unashamedly equated Christianity with Republicanism...but, no one could have accused me of swallowing everything they said. If you have a pipeline into the mind and heart of a black man who attended a black church in a black neighborhood, then you have gifts beyond anyone I've ever known.
    
    But, no matter how screwed up is the theology of an extreme Christian, it is Talbot-approved compared with the deceptive mockery of my Savior that comes from the Church of Latter Day Saints. Read the doctrinal positions promoted on the Mormons' own website and you'll either laugh or cry but you probably should think twice about voting for a guy who subscribes to it. On the other hand, perhaps God and Mrs. God really DO continue to produce spirit babies that will bounced to earth at the appropriate time...and Jesus probably did come to America and preach to the Indians...and Joseph Smith most likely wasn't a lunatic...and Mitt Romney's grandfather didn't hide out in Mexico because he wanted to multiply his wife factor...and, next semester, the Talbot Cults class will be taught as acceptable doctrine...we can only hope!
    
    Paul: I like you but some of your views are conservative knee-jerk. I was once a Reagan Republican so none of my opinions are dictated by the liberal machine. I am a pro-life Democrat, will support Barack Obama with tempered pride, and pray that we don't elect a man who will say anything to win the election. I'd rather vote for Brother Jeremiah and laugh at the reaction of Fox News!
    
    Lord bless you, Bro, and all of you who have been following this entertaining back-and-forth. October 29, 2012

40. He Who Shall Not Be Named

    ^pray that we don't elect a man who will say anything to win the election?
    
    Isn't that what ALL politicians do?
    
    Especially Obama, all the promises made and the day after he's sworn in:
    "I'm not going to be able to deliver what I promised." October 30, 2012

41. barack obama

    Dear Mr. Not Be Named:
    
    My good friend, Larry, asked me to respond to you myself. We spent some time together at a taco stand in East LA last time I was in the city for a fundraiser, and I think I know his heart. I certainly know my own. Here's the deal, "He":
    
    I am a Christian and try to always keep my word. I consider campaign promises to be a sacred bond with my constituents and I grieve when I break them.
    
    You are right: even though I followed through on healthcare (I hope that the title Obamacare is changed to Romneycare to reflect my respect for the man who originated the plan), ending two wars, and sorting out much of the financial mess I inherited; I fell behind on immigration policy, on doing a better job on stimulating job growth, and on improving my turnaround jump shot.
    
    I believe I have admitted when I have fallen short but the one thing I didn't bargain for when I moved into the White House was the intransigency of the Republican congress. When I was a senator, I enjoyed working alongside men of integrity like Arlen Specter and John McCain, but things have changed. I became quite discouraged when I heard Mitch O'Connell state that the prime goal of the Republican party in 2008 was to make me a one-term president. My instincts are all about collaboration so, to think that they were going to roadblock even programs they had once supported, made me sad. Any politician who refuses to work across the aisle is doomed to extinction because America was built on diverse people working together for the common good.
    
    So, please do not vote for me because you don't believe in me. But, know that when I pray with Michelle and the girls every night, I do so with a clear conscience that I have done me very best to help this wonderful country become all that it can be - God willing. Tonight, we'll add you to the list, even though you have a very unique name.
    
    If you see Larry, remind him about our Saturday lunch meeting at the Nickel Diner on Main St., downtown LA. If he's late, he's buying the panini.
    
    God bless you,
    Barack October 30, 2012

42. Michelle

    "So, keep your letters coming; even if you are so uptight that it sounds like you were toilet trained at gunpoint"
    
    
    How is a Biola professor so disrespecful to the students here... October 30, 2012

43. Student

    It is not to professor's job to be respectful to his students; it is his job to teach them.
    
    It is the student's job to respect the professor. If you read some of what "Paul" wrote, you'll notice there is not even an ounce of respect, just disrespect, petty personal attacks, and idiocy. October 30, 2012

44. vicki

    Michelle (and all you other TTAG's):
    
    Before you jump all over the most passionate and hilarious professor I've ever known, check your urban dictionary or Google "Toilet Trained at Gunpoint". I did and was shocked how widespread the use of the term is. It's been used in movies, in journalism, and probably in a class or two at Biola.
    
    When I read the description, I found it to be an extremely apt one for several of those who have taken it upon themselves to be the protectors of Campus Safety. Just because we're Christians doesn't mean we have no right to question authority and institutions, especially when our tuition funds them. Dr. Smith did a masterful job in poking at CS without brutalizing any individuals. We all need to look critically at all institutions that effect our lives: the government, banks, and schools. Being a Believer doesn't mean that you have to take everything society dishes at you as 'God's Will'. Christians ended slavery, got the women the vote, and continue be the driving force worldwide to stave off injustice and bring equality to millions of people who live in fear and bondage.
    
    A Campus Safety critique is small potatoes compared with the stopping of sex trafficking but we need to prepare for a world that isn't perfect and could use a bit of help.
    
    By the way, if you were lucky enough to be in Prof Smith's classes, travel to the Middle East with him, or visit him at Hollenbeck House in East LA, you would understand who he is and what he stands for. Sure, he's a Democrat but so is Dr. Peters and I LOVE him, too!
    In fact, this year, I am voting for the president, due in part to Mr. Smith's reminder of how serious it is for Christians to support someone who denigrates Jesus through a religion which is more dangerous to America than Islam.
    
    God be with you all October 31, 2012

45. ?

    @Student, it's the students job to respect the teacher IN A CLASSROOM setting, just as teachers need to respect students in the classroom setting. Respect needs to flow both ways but this is not the classroom and Paul should not be attacked for his opinion towards Prof. Smith anymore than the anti(however slightly) campus safety crowd should be for theirs.
    
    As for the article, I can see what he was trying to get to but I just think that if a point really wanted to be made, then as an educated man he should have been able to convey his message better. Maybe he was trying to be too cute with the message, who knows. He says it was meant to breed discussion which is a good thing, but the article didn't beg such a reaction to occur. It came off as a slightly humorous, very exaggerated, slap at a department on this campus.
    
    Here's an idea, rather than basing arguments against a department on experiences from 10+ years ago, lets try to actually engage in a honest two way dialogue with the campus safety officials that are here today about what is really needed and what is fluff that can be cut, rather than throwing out exaggerated statements and hyperbole at a department who doesn't have a chance to defend itself. Though if I recall, the Chimes has pretty much covered the big purchases by campus safety, like the bikes and trikes, and given the chiefs view of why they are important to have. Just some thoughts November 1, 2012