Changes in the Student Conduct Code last year gave AU more authority over students living in the neighborhood — the University can now investigate neighbor complaints and take action regarding residences where AU students live. Rather than being a completely reactive organization off campus, powers have been granted to enable a more proactive force in hunting down the offenders that live among us. Though some of us may have taken issue with this change, especially those of us residing in the neighborhood that have lived here peacefully for some time, it has helped the University promote better neighbor relations and hasn’t affected us too much … right?
It has come to our attention this week that new levels have been reached in the off-campus work by AU Public Safety. Rather than merely responding to neighbor complaints or noise violations, Public Safety and MPD have been patrolling certain areas of the neighborhood. As an editorial board, we were divided on reasons why/why not this could be allowed, but we all agree that this behavior is strongly toeing the line and may actually be abusing their newfound power.
Some of us believe that the University is right to suspect that repetitive disrespectful behavior warrants some kind of watchful eye by the administration. Others of us believed that prior infractions shouldn’t count against you before sentencing if a new one is committed. Those of us in the latter camp also believe that this sort of behavior could lead to a dangerous precedent regarding Public Safety’s presence in the neighborhood — AU is not Big Brother, nor should it be.
What is the motive for Public Safety patrolling these areas, anyway? While we understand the importance of the Campus Plan, ensuring good neighbor relations does not mean puppy-guarding our doorsteps in the event of future complaints. Actions such as this have the possibility to set a dangerous precedent for AU’s off-campus activities. Though the Conduct Code has provided the University with the chance to be more proactive in situations like this, it shouldn’t be allowed to cross certain boundaries — and this is one of them.
