Volume CXXXIII, Number 18 March 1, 2002 f

Security needs to straighten its priorities

To the Editors:

I write to voice my concern about the competency of Bowdoin College Security. A recent trip to the emergency room opened my eyes to Security's priorities-they are not the safety and well-being of students on campus.

I suffered a major head trauma after being hit from behind in a hockey game two weeks ago. I was taken to the Parkview Hospital emergency room by Security. Upon arrival there, I was dazed and disoriented, yet Security simply dropped me off and drove away.

No inquiry was made into my condition, nor were there any efforts made to help me into the emergency room.

Security did not explain what had happened or the athletic trainers' observations to the emergency room staff. Instead, the hospital staff glared at me as I stumbled into the ER, still in full hockey equipment, with a bag of ice on the back of my head.

At that moment, it became obvious to me that no phone call had informed the ER of my impending arrival or of my condition.

In my opinion, Security failed to handle the situation properly. Whether such incompetency resulted from negligence or ignorance remains to be seen.

As a student, I am appalled that parking violations seem to be a number one priority. It would be nice if the level of attention devoted to parking violations was also awarded to the student body's health and safety.

Jennifer Pelkey '04