Patrick Smith | contributing writer
psmith4@smcvt.edu

Earlier this semester, the practices of security at our college came under heated criticism. As the semester comes to a close, I think it is time that we address the great strides that have been made since then. Security needs to be complimented for the effectiveness it has shown in recent weeks. This past Saturday, on two separate occasions, security stepped up. Now I am stepping up to recognize them.

As students were enjoying the beautiful weather, security teams were laboring in their duties. During the day, at least one student’s actions demanded action from security. In a brazen disregard for authority, this young adult was daring to do homework. While others were taking advantage of the weather to drink throughout the day, or lounge in the sunlight on the ground, this man placed himself above all, literally. Sitting on the roof over his townhouse door he was reading, too serious an activity to be overlooked. After a few hours of this high risk activity, which has apparently been ongoing for as long as the weather has been nice and is not limited to a sole individual, a security guard rode to the rescue. After a brief encounter, during which the adult on the roof disrespectfully deployed logic, he was forced back to the safety of working in his room.

What could have happened if this behavior was allowed to go on? Would he have accomplished more work when he could have been drinking or even smoking marijuana? Would others catch on? Could working outside, daring to continue classroom-related activities on a Saturday afternoon catch on? Would residents across campus be finding contentment in abhorrent roof-sitting? We can only thank security that we do not need to find the answers to these questions.

Later that night, a security team took its incredible efforts to a new level. As many know, a Saturday night in the 300s can often get out of hand, and security takes its time ensuring that this will not happen. For most of the night, security was not called into action. They watched from a distance, respectfully allowing crowd of nearly one hundred people to enjoy their night. Men and women, many in toga regalia behaved as any college can only dream its students will. The few juniors and seniors enjoyed the overwhelming company of underage drinkers, as bottles were smashed and the crowd grew. Rightfully, security watched in pride did not step into action.

Then, as is so often the case, a few bad apples had to bring things to an unfortunate level. They dared display that so appalling quality of fun, safety, irony, and responsibility, with no attempts to hide it. To make matters worse, it was one of the feared Avril Lavigne dance parties. Three sober residents placed a stereo speaker in their townhouse window, two townhouses over from the polite, restrained toga party. Placing “Girlfriend”, the new single from subversive counter-culture artist Lavigne, on repeat, they danced with no regard for decency. Slowly but surely, they turned students off from the responsible party, and onto their dancing.

Keenly observing, security had to decide when to act. They are to be commended for their ability to take in all the details of the indecent activity. The growing minority of students at the “Avril Dance Party” were audaciously over 21, and at least a few of them were criminally sober. Even more insultingly, they appeared to be displaying ironic, and perhaps mocking behavior. In this tight, loving community at Saint Michael’s college, such irony is despicable. The sincerity and compassion of the massive drunken swarm at the nearby toga party could suffer because of the small group of friends nearby.

When the group swelled to perhaps seven individuals, security bravely stepped in, at their own risk. With the great courage required to stop activities such as this, three guards asked the three party founders to take the speaker out of the window, explaining that there was a risk of attracting a crowd. If the nearby mob moved a few yards over and became a crowd, who knows how many students would be trampled underfoot.

Surprisingly, the students agreed to do so, without resorting to violence. To ensure civility would be maintained, the team of security guards stood their ground. When the rebellious dancers sat down in their lawn chairs, security stood their ground. With peace restored, the members of our dutiful security team watched more bottles being smashed, freshmen stumble and fall, public urination and displays of sexuality that can only be described as beautifully grotesque. Knowing that they had done their duty and enabled this behavior to continue, security moved on.

So, let me be the first to raise three cheers for the men with badges. The days of ineffectual security guards wandering lost in a swarm of reckless college students are clearly waning. We can look to the future, as security ensures that they are putting a stop to any dangers that pose a risk to our community. One can dream of the day when we are all free from the most miniscule actives that threaten to distract from behaving as close as possible to the stereotypical college students we all aspire to be, and security peacefully watches, from several yards away.