By Evan Scherr
\nIn Motion Staff Writer<\/p>\n
In honor of the recent Campus Safety Month, let\u2019s take a look at the many creative ways Daytona State College students find to be, well, less than safe. Some students deserve special In Motion awards for going out of their way to remind the rest of us what behaviors to avoid.<\/p>\n
From DSC\u2019s Campus Safety website: \u201cWe believe an informed college is a safer college.\u201d In the interest of raised awareness, here are some examples of what not to do.<\/p>\n
Some incidents don\u2019t appear to have been the fault of the individual involved.\u00a0 In the We Never Saw It Coming category \u2014 situations such as a student who injured their thumb playing basketball on Feb. 23 or the person stuck in an elevator and let out by the fire department on Feb. 17. Embarrassing, sure, but understandable. Happens to the best of us.<\/p>\n
Most incidents, though, could have been avoided with just a small dose of common sense.\u00a0And the award for the Most Cryptic Parking Lot Incident goes to:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFeb 11. Vehicle-minor collision, student vehicle and College Gator. No injuries.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Inquiring minds want to know\u2026 A student hit a College Gator? Capital C, capital G? College Gator? It is unclear whether this was a gator of the reptilian variety or a student from the University of Florida.\u00a0If it was a UF student, was a Falcon attacking a Gator?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFeb 8. Conduct-Student put gum on another student\u2019s vehicle.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Is putting gum on another student\u2019s vehicle the college equivalent of a kindergartener\u2019s approach to conflict management? It is unclear what purpose the gum was meant to serve.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFeb 8. Conduct- Student refused to give ID to Campus Safety.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n This student is the clear winner of the Award for Conflict Escalation. How hard is to it to hand over an ID? Too hard, apparently.<\/p>\n Award for Perseverance goes to the Vending Vandal: On Feb. 8, an unknown person damaged a vending machine. On Feb 9, an unknown person pried open and damaged several vending machines, according to reports.\u00a0Was this the same unknown person? One vending machine may not have been enough. They may have had to come back for round two. Vending Machine Battle II: the epic sequel. It\u2019s also worth considering how a person was able to pry open not one, but several vending machines. Impressive commitment to excessive snacking.\u00a0I wonder if a reference to the Snickers commercial would hold up in court: \u201cI didn\u2019t do it. I\u2019m just not me when I\u2019m hungry!\u201d<\/p>\n Best Laugh at Others\u2019 Expense award goes to the student who got some good practice for being a police officer by arresting himself \u2013 handcuffs and all: \u201cOct 8. Handcuffs jammed during police tactics training. Removed without injury.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Second runner up goes to the student who, on Jan. 12, decided it was a good idea to find himself a little online distraction: \u201cJan 12. Student allegedly viewing inappropriate material on computer<\/em>.\u201d Allegedly, of course. It may or may not have been inappropriate, but someone knew it when they saw it, as the saying goes.<\/p>\n Honorable mention goes to a \u201cpossibly intoxicated\u201d student who turned to illness as an excuse to avoid admitting to, well, being drunk: \u201cNov. 25 Student\u2019s behavior possibly indicated intoxication. Stated he was ill.\u201d <\/em>Then again, the report doesn\u2019t necessarily state that the student denied having a little drink or two\u2026or three. Overindulgence has been known to cause illness in college students, now and again.<\/p>\n Worst Use of Social Media Awards goes to four contestants \u2013 a four-way tie:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNov 11. Student made comments about instructor on FB.\u201d<\/em> What were those comments? And who reported them? Were they negative comments? Angry comments? Were they declarations of love? Chili peppers? We will never know.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNov 20. Student threatened & harassed student on FB.\u201d <\/em>If you absolutely must threaten and harass someone, don\u2019t do it online. How could anyone think this would end well? And when, in a shocking turn of events, it ends badly, there\u2019s a paper trail. Good thinking there, pal.<\/p>\n \u201c13 Oct. Student made threat toward DSC on social media.\u201d <\/em>See above for clues as to why this was a less than stellar idea.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNov 7. Student referred to harming self in FB post.\u201d <\/em>Maintaining good mental health in college can be a challenge, as anyone who has suffered the rigors of finals week knows. Reaching out to friends and family is a great solution \u2013 just don\u2019t do it via FB post, guys. Stick to safe, noncontroversial topics, like politics or religion.<\/p>\n And the award for Grossest Incident goes to this student: \u201cNov 17. Nursing student had contact with patient with infectious disease.\u201d <\/em>Yuck! I hope this student got extra credit and not West Nile.<\/p>\n The Who Let You Procreate? Award goes to two real winners: a student and a non-student who got in a fight over their child in public, on campus. Usually awards are reserved for DSC students, but in this case an exception will be made to allow these two exemplary examples of parenthood to share the award. The dispute occurred on Oct. 6.<\/p>\n And finally, in a category all their own, these head-scratchers:<\/p>\n \u201cNov 11. Student possibly has medical condition causing inappropriate behavior<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNov 2. Unknown person(s) damaged college trash can in parking lot.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Was this an act of revenge?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOct. 28 Employee concerned over artwork student made on computer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Details needed. Why the concern? What was the subject of this artwork?<\/p>\n All these anecdotes share a common quality \u2014 the ability to keep the rest of us utterly perplexed. Whatever the perpetuators are thinking \u2014 or not thinking \u2014 they leave us hankering for just a little more backstory. Unfortunately, this is all we get to know about Daytona State\u2019s miscreants, hoodlums and hapless victims. What crazy events will transpire next? Who knows, but rest assured that this is not the end of the exploits of Florida Man\u2019s little cousin, Daytona State Student.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Evan Scherr In Motion Staff Writer In honor of the recent Campus Safety Month, let\u2019s take a look at the many creative ways Daytona State College students find to be, well, less than safe. Some students deserve special In Motion awards for going out of their way to remind Continue reading What weren\u2019t they thinking? \u2018Best Of\u2019 crime reports give pause<\/span>