From the beginning of their college career, every Wabash man is imbued with the rule that governs all conduct both on and off campus.
The community at large, however, is not governed by the rule.
The recent upswing in theft around campus emphasizes the point. Since Wabash students returned to the college, at least three fraternity houses have been broken into in the Grant Avenue area. Independents whom park in the Fine Arts parking lot also had cars raided and cars vandalized.
“Ours is an open campus and I think our guys, I hope, feel safe and comfortable on our campus,” Associate Dean of Students Michael Raters ‘85 said. “That said, we always have to be diligent because we are open, that often makes us an easy target for others who would like to take advantage of our openness.”
The brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), who are staying in the old FIJI house until their new fraternity house is built, lost laptops, X-Box 360s, iPods and other electronic equipment, according to Mr. Raters. All told, almost $2000 of equipment was stolen from the house in one night.
TKE President Josh Eal ’08 said the fraternity has now taken precautions to secure the building.
“There are a lot of points of entry we can’t cover,” Mr. Eal said. “We have tried to figure out all the things we can do to get it more secure, and we’re getting better at that. I think the night it happened was a fluke, because we’ve learned there are some of the windows that can be open even when they are shut and stuff like that.”
He added windows would have to be closed even if it’s 90 degrees outside.
On the same night, the brothers of Kappa Sigma were also robbed. Clay Zook ’10 was robbed of his wallet from his room while he slept.
“The thought of it’s scary,” Mr. Zook said. “I left my door unlocked because I trust the guys in my house. I woke up around 7 a.m. and my door was open and my wallet was gone.”
Mr. Raters stated the brothers of Phi Delta Theta also had a trespasser in the house, he was chased out and the police was called. This person, according to Raters, did not have in his possession any of the stolen items.
Fraternities were not the only group of Wallies suffering thefts. Independent men who parked in the Fine Arts lot also had some of their cars broken in to. Mr. Matt Whyde ’10 of College Hall had a $200 radio stolen out of his truck.
“I now try to park as close as I can to the building and keep my truck locked up as best as possible,” Mr. Whyde said. “Right now I don’t have a radio to steal so I guess I don’t have any worries anyways.”
Raters, Zook, Eal and Whyde all have a hard time seeing a Wabash student robbing other Wabash students.
“I don’t think it is a Wabash student, Mr. Eal said. “I think the Gentlemen’s Rule would help prevent that.”
As both a former student and administrator, Mr. Raters is bothered by the changes the College is forced to make when events like these robberies happen.
“What I especially can’t stand quite frankly is the situations [like these] might lead to tangible changes in our culture,” Mr. Raters said. “Our students love the culture here and every time these things happen I worry about the adjustments we are going to have to make and how they might meet up with the culture we have and cherish.”
Mr. Raters does not see any one theft as more important or propellant than another. “To an individual student who loses his wallet because it has been taken or loses an iPod because it has been taken,” he said, “that in and of itself is a major event.”
Mr. Raters hopes his office can be of assistance. However, he cautions students not to hold the Deans’ office responsible for the stolen items.
“We have a great concern for our students’ well being and want to be supportive and educational in how we can help,” he said. “I hope our guys look at our offices as a place to come to for help and for guidance. At the same time, we can’t prevent these things, and we cannot be responsible for replacing items that are stolen because it happened on campus.”
As the community’s conduct is not governed by the Gentleman’s Rule, all Wabash students can do is try to protect their belongings better.
Mr. Zook now takes precautions before he goes to sleep.
“I’m now locking my door every night,” he said.