The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Opinions

Safe, not sorry

Although at times finicky, UGA Alert is a necessary measure toward safety.

It's been two years since a deeply troubled student opened fire on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va., and killed 32 people.

Since then, a lot of things have changed on our own campus. We think they're for our benefit.

The University instituted UGA Alert in late 2007 to notify subscribed students of emergencies via phone call, text message or e-mail. Though the program remains the butt of many jokes and a source of frustration, we feel a lot safer knowing it exists. On a campus this large, it's impossible to know whether a mugging on North Campus or a bomb threat at the MLC is an "isolated incident." We encourage University Police to keep us informed of violent incidents.

If we're fortunate, we'll never face the sort of situation that will truly test the effectiveness of UGA Alert.

The University also launched the Behavioral Assessment and Response Council to deal with students who exhibit threatening behavior. Everyone on campus should know this group exists, but should recognize its sensitive nature.

Mass shootings will always be sad occurrences in American life. A look at the news during the last two months proves that. But we know that the University has taken the necessary steps to keep our campus from becoming the next crime scene.

- Drew Wheatley for the editorial board

Barefoot blunders

TOMS Shoes is admirable, but students are supporting it in a strange way.

Today's the day - people on campus are walking around barefoot. At least, that's what TOMS at UGA is hoping for.

We sincerely hope everyone going without shoes in support of the cause has had their Tetanus shots.

According to the TOMS Facebook event, cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection. And you all are willingly walking around barefoot? We get it. You support the cause. Any sane person understands that South African children going without shoes is sad, and they should be helped.

But University students, thousands of miles away, walking around barefoot? Call us crazy, but this seems counterproductive. Sure, you won't become seriously infected after one day sans shoes, but there's probably more constructive ways to support such a good cause.

For example, why not hold a used shoe drive and ask people to donate old, but still wearable, pairs?

TOMS is a great company with an admirable mission, but events such as this demean its intent. People might be aware of the cause now, but it's not necessarily going to make them buy the shoes - and it certainly doesn't help those kids in Africa without them.

- Shannon Otto for the editorial board

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