Imagine being a member of a bank. When you put money into a bank, you expect them to take care of your assets. But then a robber comes in, and steals money from the bank. As the villain makes his getaway, the bank turns to its customers and tells them that they are responsible for reimbursing the bank’s stolen money. Each of them, as members of the bank, must evenly split the cost of the lost money.
In that predicament is where the students residing in Susan B. Anthony Halls stand in juxtaposition to the Office of Residential Life. When thieves robbed couches from five of the six SBA Hall study lounges, the school lost $6,000 – $1200 for each of five stolen couches. On March 30, the Residential Advisors were asked to send out an email to all of their residents stating that, as per the contract with ResLife, should the stolen couches not be returned by the following Monday, the whole building would be assessed for damages.
Naturally, those involved in this crime are nothing less than emotionally stunted juveniles pleading for attention. Naturally, they should stop acting like cowards and return the couches to the residence hall. Naturally, the rest of the students must follow the contract they agreed to at the beginning of the year.
There is more to this caper than just that. Residential Life must be held accountable as well. Why does it seem life ResLife can never hold on to furniture? Why is there not more security in the residence halls? Most importantly, why is the University of Rochester paying $1200 for a couch when a quality sofa can be bought for easily under $700? This theft demonstrates yet again that UR shells out money without looking for the best deal around, and then hikes up tuition 6.9% to cover itself -but blaming it on the government’s inability to procure cheaper energy.
Of course the vandals who stole the couches must be blamed. But they are not the only thieves among us.
