Campus security measures
are found to be inadequate
"During what hours is a student allowed on campus?" These were my words to two uniformed Rider security officers early Sunday morning, when they drove up to me in their cars in the Library parking lot. I had walked in from the township, past the kiosk, without attracting any notice from the guard on duty, absorbed in his coffee and newspaper with the radio blaring. , Lawrenceville, 10-12-1984
In the middle of the campus just before sun-up, the initial response I drew from these officers was suspicion; understandable, since, as one of them remarked, "it's not everyday we get people wandering in the gate at 5:30 in the morning -- sober."
Politely declining their offer to "escort me off the campus," I said that I had come for a walk around the lake and I would like to be let alone.
They responded with a comment about "a few assaults we've had" around the area of the Education Annex this semester.
Having thus established myself as a card-carrying full-time Rider student, with no apparent illegal motives, involvement in criminal activities, or intent to bother anyone, I was allowed to continue my pre-dawn stroll around the lake.
In the course of all this, I was reminded of the effect my gender has in this society on what I may decide is safe for me to do. I recall area women's "take back the night" march in Trenton not long ago, and wonder whether it (or other similar activities) have had any effect on residents' perceptions.
As a student at Rider College, I claim the right to walk around the campus at any time of the day or night, unmolested. I commend the campus police for stopping me for ID but it seemed to me that had I been a real threat, or had I at all wished to avoid being apprehended there could have been a more efficient response. Upon entering the campus I was somewhat taken aback by the kiosk attendant's inattentiveness.
Further, I suggest to the administration that some specific changes in the grounds design behind the Annex might lend themselves to a more secure environment in that area of campus. First, the elimination of fences and other barricades to traffic would enable more thorough patrols. Second, the parking lot could use more lights and a bit of cleaning up (get those dumpsters into a partitioned area) to correct the existing back-alley charm the area has.
Finally, I wonder if there might not be funds to erect some sort of small structure in the corner of the lot or of one of the adjacent athletic fields; perhaps an all-night study area or TV lounge for students, staffed by a security officer.
THOMAS S. RUE
graduate student
The Rider News
Weekend encounter
The fall "encounter" retreated called Personal Growth Laboratory is drawing very close, so I would like to bring to people's attention that applications are still being acepted and are available from the secretary in the Office of Student Life, upstairs in the Student Center, or call me for more information. , Trenton, NJ, 10-16-1984
In order to fill in those of you who may not know what PGL is, let me explain. Once each semester, with Student Finance Board funding, the three-day Lab (Friday through Sunday) is offered to all members of of the Trenton State College campus community as an opportunity to leave academic concerns behind and work on personal issues in a safe, confidential group of between eight and twelve people. Some ground rules of these "encounter groups" (sometimes known as "t-groups") are that participants be open and honest with each other in the group setting, that they avoid intellectualizing, and focus instead on their feelings and perceptions. The experience is designed to offer an intensive weekend encounter, assisting relatively healthy people to achieve better contact with themselves and others.
PGL is not a substitute for counseling services, but the leaders (or "facilitators") are all qualified professionals with years of experience in huamn-relations training. For those who desire it, follow-up counseling is available to students, free of charge, at the counseling center on campus. Dr. David Young, Director of that Counseling Center, will be the resident consultant at this fall's Lab.
The retreat will be held the weekend of Oct. 19-21 at Camp Innisfree, adjacent to the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River in the northern Poconos. The fee to participate in the Lab is $10 for Trenton State students, and includes transportation, lodging, and home-cooked meals. Students may be administratively excused from classes to attend, and while some may contend that their academic, personal, or professional schedules are still just too busy, the value of the experience is such that I suggest it could well be worth examining your priorities and fitting into your calendar a weekend that is just for you.
Sincerely,
THOMAS S. RUE
(Home phone: 609-883-8199)
The Signal
Disagrees with judge
I applaud the intent of Judge Paul Kramer's June 10 ruling excluding questions from the voir dire process which relate to matters of race. The matter concerned the case of the State v. Gary Stevens, a former policeman charged with using the authority of his badge and uniform to humiliate and dominate innocent female citizens for his own erotic gratification. , Trenton, NJ, 07-15-1984
But I question the judge's reasoning. He is quoted as saying that allowing the defense to question potential jurors on the matter of whether the defendant's race, or the race of the victims would influence their verdict and "open a Pandora's box" of other problems and questions for him to worry about. What are judges for, anyway?
My fear is that if the accused is found guilty and convicted, he will later get off on appeal because his civil rights may have been violated by an unwitting Judge Kramer.
While Kramer is right when he says that the issue of the accused's race should be of no consequence to the jury, the fact remains that this is not a perfect world and there are people among us who would not measure up to the judge's apparent naive assumptions about people in general. Yes, there are those among us who look at a man's skin color before they look into his eyes; there are racists, even in Mount Holly. I sincerely hope the judge's refusal to allow the defense to root out the bigots and allow Mr. Stevens the right to an impartial trial by a jury of his peers does not set any precedents.
On the other hand, I find it rather curious that a crime of this nature on the part of a policeman should bring only the relatively innocuous sounding charge of "official misconduct." Could the fact that no charges relating to sexual abuse, or at least harassment, were filed have any relationship to the fact that the accused man is a former law-enforcement official with a place in that "tangled web" of an old boys' network?
THOMAS S. RUE
Trenton
The Trenton Times
No information on bond issues
I do not yet know how the recent special election on approval of the school board bond issues turned out, but I can practically guaranteee you that the voters of Lawrence Township were grossly underrepresented at the polls. , Lawrenceville, 12-11-1984
If a local public school teacher had not told me about it that afternoon, I would not have known about the election until I read the results in the paper.
With its 11,000 registered voters, it seems to me that Lawrence Township could afford to mail out sample ballots or some other type of notice of the upcoming special election. A supposedly democratic society should pride itself on involving as many as possible of its populace in the decision-making process. Is the cost of so many postcards too high a price to keep voters informed?
THOMAS S. RUE
Trenton
The Lawrence Ledger
Light and human relations
Your recent piece on the reason why it is impossible to get a suntan through glass might well be applied to the psychology of interpersonal relationships. To quote the article, "When light of one frequency encounters matter of the same frequency, the two vibrate together and the matter absorbs the energy. But when the frequencies are sufficiently different, the light passes through." ("Can You Tan Through Glass" 1/85, p. 76). , New York, NY, 12-11-1984
If we view human personality or "spirit" as a form of light, then there may be a parallel here to explain the traditions that interpersonal conflicts are frequently the result when individuals are "too much alike," and that "opposites attract."
When partners have very similar personality traits, there is a tendency to become enmeshed or "absorbed'in one another. On the other hand, extremely dissimilar companions may or may not be likely to pass right through an encounter without any noticeable attraction, perhaps depending on the individuals' needs for external support in defining identity bounderies.
It seems that the ideal diadic relationship is the one in which both members are sufficiently accomodating to allow a kind of metaphorical translucense, and at the same time have a sufficient degree of self-definition or ego-strength to be able to "vibrate together" with another person.
THOMAS S. RUE
Lawrenceville, NJ
Science Digest
Alarmed at direction country is taking
The Miss America pageant's recent selection of Utah Mormon Sharlene Wells indicates to me that the nightmare I had in 1980 may be coming true. Ronald Reagan's right-wing reactionism seems really to have taken hold of the American heart, and I am scared. , Trenton, 10-13-1984
With the ridicule I felt I received at my previous place of employment concerning a letter of mine which appeared in the paper (regarding what I saw as the despicable betrayal of Vanessa Williams by capitalist exploiters); if It were not for the fact that I am now a full-time graduate student, I might not be writing this now, but I feel a need to express my terror at the direction this country seems to be taking.
To my present chagrin, I confess that I voted for Ronald Reagan in the primary election of 1976 (the one he lost.) My only excuse is that at the time, like Sharlene Wells, I was then a Mormon Sunday school teacher living in Provo, Utah. While Miss Wells hails from Ogden, I think I understand something of her people's mindset, having spent a number of years (including -- like her father -- some as a missionary for the church) with a philosophical outlook very close to hers. As a former elder of the Mormon Church, a bearer of their priesthood, I have spent the last several years undergoing a tremendous personal transformation, especially with respect to matters of race and feminism. My perception of the Miss America debacle is representative of this change.
I see Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione's manipulation of Vanessa Willams' plight, for his own selfish ends, as symbolic of Reaganian "democracy."
What is particularly distressing is that the Miss America people may well have a good thumb on prevailing public opinion. The new title holder supports state-sponsored prayer in public schools, opposes the women's right-to-choice movement in abortion and, also true to Mormon teachings, is opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment.
A year or two ago I attended a lecture given by Sonia Johnson, founder of Mormons For ERA and recently a national presidential candidate. She inscribed a copy of her book for me, addressing it to one whom she hoped "proves to be one of the rare men who really cares about women." Well, maybe I've lived up to Ms. Johnson's charge and maybe I haven't, but I am certain that Ronald Reagan, is not one of those "rare men."
It is the supply-siders, not Vanesea Wllliams; the Bob Gucciones, the Ronald Reagans, and the other opportunists who betray trusts and take advantage of people in order to stay In power and make themselves wealthler who demonstrate the real "moral turpitude" which Americans would do well to abhor.
THOMAS S. RUE
Lawrence Township
The Trenton Times
Thanks helpful police officer
Last night I drove to Titusville to drop off some papers at the home of a friend, and at 11 pm found myself nearly out of gas. With the needle below "empty," I knew I would not make it back to Trenton on what I had. So, hoping to find a service station open in Lambertville, I headed north. When I got to town, however, everything was closed up. , Lambertville, NJ, 10-13-1984The purpose of this letter is to express my appreciation for the assistance I received at the hands of the Lambertville Police. A patrolman by the name of Kendig cheerfully provided me with three gallons (enough to get me home) and refused to take any money for it. I extend my thanks to the Police Department, and to Patrolman Kendig in particular, for reaffirming my positive impression of your town.
THOMAS S. RUE
Lawrence Township
The Lambertville Beacon
03-24-1998
