Students Deflating the Heritage of Texas A&M University

Link: http://collegestation.craigslist.org/rnr/933358921.html

© ignoranceorapathy.com 11/25/2008
Alumni that may be proud of Texas A&M University should be alarmed at what the student body is becoming

Posted today on Craigslist Rants and Raves:

It is sad when our mostly quiet town cannot be festive for the holiday season.
I just ran two boys out of my yard (shortly after 4 am) attempting to steal 6 lighted candy canes and two lighted spiral Christmas trees. The theft of outdoor Christmas decorations is a problem I have never experienced anyplace I have lived before. The eight years I have been here it seems every year there is another rash of thefts. I opened my garage door catching two boys in the act of stealing our lights chased them off, one wearing a blue / grey hooded sweatshirt.

Follow up:

I had always naturally assumed it was some stupid college prank but this is out of hand. Last year they cost me just over $50.00 to replace the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, this year that cost would have been a little higher. That is not a prank that is a crime.

On speaking with the officers this morning I was informed that some of those caught last year turned out to be members of the corps of cadets. That is very saddening to me as I understood the corps was attempting to instill the highest values of leadership and integrity.

It is high time that Texas A&M University and the Corps start owing up to the problems that their students cause in College Station. It is time that the University starts reminding these kids this town is not their personal playground.

Those who take up theft of yard ornaments may want to keep in mind that Texas self-defense laws have changed and that anyone who feels threatened may indeed shoot someone on their property while that person is in the commission of a crime.

I for one will be installing security cameras to keep watch over my outdoor Christmas decorations, that in and of itself is a sad commentary on the state of student relations between TAMU and the city of College Station.

Responce posted by an Alumni:

I was in the Corps about 10 years ago and as fish we were actually pressured by our upperclassmen to go about town and steal Christmas lights. I did not participate and was called every name in the book by my buddies and upperclassmen. I was here from out of state and on scholarship and I wasn't going to mess that up for anything. They came back with their trophies and received perks for stealing them. I got nothing of course, but my conscience was clear. It looks to me like this is another one of those stupid "traditions" that needs to be taken care of. Maybe placing a call to the Commandant's office is a good idea?

Alumni that may be proud of Texas A&M University should be alarmed at what the student body is becoming

Stupid college pranks are norm for most intuitions of higher or lower learning in our nation. Pranks end at the harmless. When pranks start causing property damage and involve real money thefts, they step over a line and become criminal acts.

College Station, Texas is not the campus of Texas A&M. It is a town that is home to TAMU. I do not know if the current student body understands the word home, but to the full year residents it is home. You do not steal from the neighbors of your home, you do not harass the neighbors of your home and when you are a guest in someone else’s home you show respect.

That is the real problem with the current crop of students and the Corps of Cadets, they show no respect, as they are guests in our home. They act as if this whole town is their personal playground … and litter box.

I expect this sort of behavior from the students of other colleges but not from Aggies. Aggies used to have a higher standard. That appears to be in the past.

We, as actual residents, are treated to the annual mayhem that ensues each fall as a new crop of “students” show up on our streets in brand new Mustang GT’s and Lexus play toys. Kids who have never shown a modicum of responsibility are turned loose with high performance cars and it is not long before the accidents start piling up. Then later in the semester the residents of many communities are treated to all night blowout parties as the “students” decide to blow off exam steam. Never mind that the neighbors have to get up at 6 A.M. and go to work at real jobs.

Jaywalking is another serious problem. On campus pedestrians have the right of way and cars must stop. These students seem to think this whole town is their campus as they will walk out in front of traffic almost anywhere or anytime. I myself have had to slam on the brakes in parking lots and side streets to avoid hitting a student who never even looked for oncoming traffic.

This annual ordeal of stealing Christmas lights is beyond the pale.
The theft of outdoor Christmas lights and decorations may seem a trivial matter to some and a joke to others, but I assure you it is no joke to the victims or to law enforcement.

In order for the theft to be carried out first the culprits must trespass on private property. Then the culprits must disassemble the wiring of the lights and decorations and remove them, criminal mischief and possibly destruction of private property. The theft of the lights and decorations can range from misdemeanor to felony theft depending on the value of the items stolen. Not to mention the time the victims have involved in setting up these outdoor Christmas displays and then repairing the damage left in the criminals wake.

One of these nights one of these kids is going to be shot by a homeowner. The Texas Castle Law signed into effect 1 March 2007 not only makes this possible but likely. Then what will the headline be? They are trespassing on private property, they are stealing from their neighbors (and hosts), they are damaging hour’s worth of work and thousands of dollars worth of display items and for what? A college-hazing prank?

The Corps of Cadets is an integral part of Texas A&M, it is both a source of pride and heritage for the university. It is also a very large body of students. Comments made to me, speaking with College Station police officers under the condition of anonymity, that the Corps of Cadets is regarded by law enforcement as “just another fraternity that happens to have uniforms” is a poor reflection on the standing of the University and it's students. It was also stated clearly to me that members of the Corps of Cadets were involved in these incidents last year and the most of the arrests for these crimes last year were Corps members.

This type of behavior should not be tolerated by the University, the Corps of Cadets nor by the Alumni, everyone needs to make it clear to these kids this is not socially acceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. When you are a guest in someone else’s home you should act with respect and consideration.
If you are an alumni and do not care to have the legacy of your school tarnished, you should make contact with A&M and the Corps.

jhall@corps.tamu.edu
g-burnside73@tamu.edu
jgardner@corps.tamu.edu
president@tamu.edu

If you are the parent of one of these "students" you should be policing your own.

We should all remember the Aggie Code of Honor: An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.

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