Congratulations to the Globe Gazette editorial team, for their editorial today, June 10, 2012. They are finally speaking up about drugs in the community, now if they would only become part of the parcel that wants to cut the head off the snake as far as the NIACC campus goes.
I really don’t think there is a valid argument in this city that drugs are prevalent on that campus and have been for many years. Also the same goes as far as the school’s effort, other than superficial, about getting serious about the problem. It’s one of those well guarded secrets that no one wants to bring out in the open….until now.
Now people are getting killed and gun shots are common and as the Police Chief stated, it is going to take city wide cooperation to even come close to getting this under control. We have created laws in this country that are of greater benefit to the drug dealer than the public. There is no magic bullet here, you need to speak up, tell what you know, your identity will be protected.
Maybe the only way to get the school’s attention is through the enrollment figures. Once they see a drop in registrations things will come full circle quickly. As it goes now there is no way in hell I’d ever put a young inexperience child in that atmosphere to fend for themselves. Peer pressure alone is one of the most dangerous aspects in bring up a child…you can’t be by their side 24/7; my advice…if you want to gamble go to Diamond Jo’s Casino, your odds are better.
At first I thought of approaching a couple of business here that I know that would be more than willing to pay for a drug dog; but why should they? That college can well afford to pay for their own; have you read the salary schedules that are published in the paper. I am of the opinion that the faculty should collectively kick in to provide the dog. It could be called “Job Insurance.” The enrollment would go up, the school would receive state wide recognition, maybe even nationwide for their efforts in making an honest attempt to clean up their school.
If this were to happen it couldn’t be a farce like their drug testing program. Maybe they could contract with a private firm to put the program in place and run it. Perhaps a contingent of retired police officers, with the authority to make arrests would come forth….these are people with experience and know how. There are ways to fight back, but the real question is; will they? Being pissed won’t get you anything but wet; admitting to the problem, then acting on it will show you care and are serious about correcting it.
Peter Children
