The Reporter

www. stecsonreponen corn i nursuay, uciuuer zz, zulr by Maria Wrabel On Saturday night, September 26, an individual from outside the Stetson community attempted to steal a bicycle near Stetson Hail. A Public Safety officer approached the suspicious-looking individual. After a few moments of conversation, the individual shoved the officer aside, leapt on the bike, and sped away, The officer, in an attempt to stop him, hooked her arm around his backpack and was subsequently dragged about fifty feet across the pavement, according to Bob Matusick, the Director of Public Safety. When she finally let go, .'he individual continued to ride away. He was Ihcn intercepted-by another Public Safety officer, wikO had responded to the first's call for help This officer jumped from his golf cart and tackled the suspect, who then sat down and surrendered. The bicycle belonged to Josh Messinger, a sophomore Political Science major, who witnessed parts of the confrontation. "I was iii my room on Saturday night, with the window open. 1 heard some noises outside, malic efforts officers took to stop and apprehend the suspect on Saturday night. As is common knowledge, officers currently do not receive any means with which to defend themselves as they protect the Stetson community. With that knowledge in mind. Messinger, along with several other members of the .Student Government Association, have drawn up a bill that will provide Pub- «t al- i ji. j ij lie Safety officers with a few items with 1 think ihe cnanqes would u-, t . f , ri , ™, v whicn to defend themselves, these items not be SO had if we made would include mace, and zip-tie handcuffs SUre that these things WOUld t0 restrain potentially dangerous suspects. not he used against students. The mace aad zip"t[e handcuffs> accordir'g The main point here is lo protect our officers. On the same token, we don't want brute force used against our students. We need to find a compromise," - SGA, President Akeel St. Jean to the bill, would not be used on any person who is able to identify himself or herself as a Stetson student, faculty, or staff member, Messinger said. [f the officers on duty had had such protection on Saturday night, the situation might have played out differently. The first officer may have been able to detain the suspect before he had an opportunity to cause her injury. We will never know. In future incidents, such protection may be helpful to officers, and reduce the risk of personal harm and I looked out my window to see [the officer] walking towards these officers face every night as they patrol the Stetson campus, someone at the bike rack. When the suspect pushed the officer President of SGA, Akeel St. Jean, commented on the potential aside ana got on the bike. I ran down the stairwell to try to help," changes suggested in the bill. "I think the changes would not be Messinger said. He witnessed the officer lying on the ground, bat- so bad if we made sure that these things would not be used against iered from being dragged behind the bicycle. Though the officer students. The main point here is to protect our officers. On the sufferecl several m inor injuries, she decided to continue with her same token, we don't want brute force used against our students, shift that evening. . Wc need to find a compromise," St. Jean said. Tries instance illustrates the fact that Public Safety officers are indeed, officers would not be armed with actual weapons, such indeed on campus to help students. However, feelings of aminos-- as guns or lasers, as they are on some campuses. Matusick showed ity towards Public Safety have grown, especially since the start of support for the idea of officers being supplied with pepper spray, this semester. This is largely due to the increased walk -throughs so long as it was only used for the protection of the officers. "This of the residential buildings, a measure implemented to ensure the is up to the students. We don't want our students to be afraid of safety of students at all hours "of the day and night. Public Safety, la fact, we want them to see us as their partners on There is, however, more than lo a Public Safety officer's job than campus. We want students to feel secure when they lay their heads simply writing policy violations. "There are a lot of very admirable down at night," Matusick added. things they do during the late hours of the night, which the Stetson If the bill providing further protection for the officers were to community doesn't know about. They protect us," Messinger said, pass, it would by no means pose a threat to the members of the - As Stetson is an open can'pus, there ate a number of individuals Stetson community. Rather, it would simply be an attempt to en- who enter the campus at all times of the day or night. "We are sure and improve the safety of Public Safety officers, allowing diligent on campus lo look for people who don't belong. We are them the security to better perform their jobs, here to make sure that students feel safe," Matusick said. They arc The bill will be formally proposed lo the Senate at the next racet- willuig tc risk their own safety and well-being in order to protect ing. it will then go to committee, be thoroughly researched, and the property and security of Stetson students, as shown by the dra~ subsequently voted on within the next several weeks. Recormectinq with Democracy at Stetson, f)f rage 7 DeLand's Chili Cook-Off, Blues and Mimosas, raj Hatter's nab first Volleyball id ii 11 PflgP 11 :etson Graduate es During Basic raininq by Kaitlyn Schulz On September 10th, 2009 Stetson University lost yet another member of its family: alumnus Spc. Christopher Hogg. A local student from Deltona and a graduate of Deland High School in 2004, Christopher enrolled in Stetson to later graduate with aB.S degree in Computer Science and Mathematics in 2008. After graduating, Christopher enlisted in the United States Army as a (35P) Crypto- logic Linguist in July 2009. He was sent to Fort Jackson in July, 2009 and assigned to 2nd Platoon, Delta Company. 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, 193rd infantry Brigade. Christopher was in his fifth week of basic training with Delta Company and was scheduled to graduate October 15th, 2009, when on September 3rd he was admitted to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital with a lever and respiraioiy problems. He passed away on September 10th, 2009 from an original diagnosis of pneumonia. "Chris was very religious and every weekend he went home to be with his family, lie was incredibly family orientated and was, as far as t know, devoted very much to his church. Chris was bright. When you spoke with him, you thought he had Einstein stuck in his head. He was honestly a blast to work with on projects because he always brought the best of...wcll...'nerdy' humor, Yoa can't top a Chogg joke, as far as I'm concerned- his nickname was, Chogg, in the department. He never seemed tc mind th; nickname. In fact, he asked people to call him that"- Sam Romano, Stetson gradu- Piease See "Grad.*5 P. 3