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(12/15/14 12:46am)
Jakell Mitchell, redshirt football player and freshman in sociology, was the victim of a shooting at Tiger Lodge, early Sunday morning Dec. 14.
This is not the first time Tiger Lodge, formerly known as University Heights, was the location of a shooting.
Former football players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, and DeMario Pitts of Opelika were the victims of a shooting at the same complex June 9, 2012.
It may not be the last if procedures and protocol do not change immediately.
A Tiger Lodge employee said no one was able to speak with the Becky Hardy, editor-in-chief, at noon Sunday, Dec. 14, and said they did not know when someone would be able to talk.
Other Plainsman reporters were not able to get a comment for the complex all day.
The Auburn Police Division arrived at the scene within minutes and responded to reporter's calls.
Tiger Lodge does have security cameras throughout the complex, which were viewed at the Desmonte Leonard trial as evidence, but cameras located throughout the complex are not enough to protect the residents.
It is understandable the police cannot be everywhere at once, so this is not a target at the police division.
Also while Tiger Lodge can't be responsible for larger cultural issues surrounding guns or individuals who choose to act irresponsibility, it can and should take precautions against such possibilities.
Two shootings in as many years is proof enough.
Tiger Lodge said they are the "best in student living," on their Facebook and Twitter pages, but that is not reflected in what has happened within the gates of the complex.
A employee at Tiger Lodge said the apartment complex does perform background checks on their residents.
The complex could perform a more thorough background check on their residents, but this still will not eliminate people from coming into the complex and shooting.
According to Tiger Lodge's Facebook page, it does have security guards roam the complex at night, but to make sure this doesn't ever happen again the complex needs to increase security guard patrol throughout the day.
Many residents commented on Tiger Lodge's Facebook statement about Mitchell's death saying they have never seen or rarely seen a security guard in the complex.
This needs to change.
Security on patrol throughout the day could limit fatal interactions between people in the complex.
Safety needs to be the top priority for Tiger Lodge and every other apartment complex in Auburn.
At this point it seems like the only thing that has changed about the Longleaf apartment complex is the name.
The editorial staff is calling for the owners and managers of Tiger Lodge to step up their safety procedures and put more safety measures in place.
Auburn does not need to lose another family member.
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Post by Tiger Lodge at Auburn.
(12/04/14 6:30pm)
As finals week approaches many students have begun their attempts to cram a semesters' worth of information into a few days of all night studying at the library.
Finals week is an understood necessary part of being a college student. However, some of the stresses that come with finals week at Auburn University could be avoided.
If you look at Auburn University's official school calendar, which is available online at auburn.edu/main/auweb_calendar.html, you can see the University has designated study/reading days before finals week.
Those days also happen to be Saturday and Sunday.
The University shouldn't call Saturday and Sunday dead days. Students have every weekend off, regardless of how it's marked on the calendar.
Many universities have a week or at least a couple of days before finals designated as dead days, in which students don't have classes to focus on preparing for finals.
The University of Georgia has Dec. 10, a Wednesday, as a designated reading day before their exams begin on Thursday.
The University of Arkansas has Dec. 12, a Friday, marked as a study day. Their exams begin on the following Monday.
The University of Florida has two reading days, Thursday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 12, as well the weekend to allow for studying for final exams.
Most of these universities achieve this by having a few more days tacked onto their schedules.
While adding a few more days to the calendar may be unpopular to students, it would be worth the improvement in grades that could come from the extra time to study. Currently, Auburn has a month-long break, one of the longest breaks for schools in the area. A few more days in the calendar would not hurt students' vacation time.
Projects and exams assigned the week before finals also frustrate students already stressed out because of limited time to study.
Professors should also not be allowed to give exams the week before finals and then give the final a week later. Some professors in subjects, such as psychology, marketing and chemical engineering have given exams this week, while still requiring their students to take a final exam next week.
That type of exam schedule, within a two-week period, puts too much stress on students, especially students who are about to graduate who may not find out their graduation status until the night before the graduation ceremony.
Final exams are already stressful for students and the grades received in one week can impact students' GPAs.
The University needs to rearrange this awkward two week period.
According to Brad Smith, Student Government Association adviser, SGA is exploring options to change the structure in the two weeks between Thanksgiving break and winter break, but nothing definite is in the works right now.
(11/20/14 2:30pm)
Football rivalries are ingrained into college life as deeply as the traditions of rolling Toomer's Corner in Auburn, cowbells clanking at Ole Miss and lighting the central tower on the University of Texas' campus.
In every game played against rival schools there are jeers and pranks played against opposing fans. Most are harmless- stringing corndogs in trees for LSU games or putting plush bulldog toys in fake cages with signs declaring impending victory.
The problem comes when those antics go too far.
Fans should never have to fear for their safety simply because they are supporting a team.
Last weekend the Auburn game against Georgia brought to light an open letter from one Auburn fan detailing his encounter in Athens. In the letter, he said his group of friends was spit on and had beer glasses thrown at them. Overall, he noted that he and his friends did not feel safe during their time at Athens.
That is not to say his experience, if honest, was the same experience all other Auburn fans had last weekend in Athens. Despite the disappointing Auburn outcome, many students noted the fun they had while in Georgia territory over the weekend. Likewise, the mistreatment likely came from a limited number of overly aggressive people.
Not that this practice is limited to Georgia. Auburn's own so-called fans sent death threats to Gene Chizik after two poor seasons.
Gerri Sax, an editor for the LSU student newspaper LSUreveille spoke in an editorial about her experience posing as an Alabama fan during the Alabama vs. LSU game in early November. She said that she and a fellow member of staff were verbally abused, spit on, groped and had their camera equipment knocked around as they walked through campus wearing rival colors.
As a fan, you are a representative of your school.
Your hatred for another school's football team may run deep, but it is still vital to remember that there are real live human beings beyond the stadium seats.
All fans, whether from Alabama or Hawaii, should be treated with respect. Poking fun is to be expected, but poking into people's personal space is unacceptable.
As students and alumnae of a university, you should want to promote the image of your school. It should make fans proud when opposing football enthusiasts have nothing but good things to say about how respectable and classy people from your school were.
In the end, it is just a football game, not the end of all worlds. It's not worth threatening another's safety.
(11/13/14 2:30pm)
Since Auburn's unexpected loss to Texas A&M, it seems the majority of national coverage is declaring our luck has run out.
"Auburn's luck runs out versus Texas A&M," an ESPN headline announced.
"It's as if karma has caught up to No. 3 Auburn after the prayer at Jordan-Hare," said Jon Solomon, national college football writer.
"The string of victories was already unnatural," wrote Dan Wolken with USA Today wrote.
The word luck has become closely associated with Auburn football over the past few years.
There have been moments of luck, such as last year's game against Georgia.
It was lucky the ball deflected into the hands of Ricardo Louis, allowing him to score the game-winning touchdown.
Even then, the team traned for long passes and that training paid off after the deflecion.
However, saying every close game Auburn has won is the result of luck is a disservice to the team and coaching staff.
In the 2013 Iron Bowl, Chris Davis returned a missed field goal to win the game. While the play was difficult to achieve, it was practiced. Coach Gus Malzahn even called a timeout before the play to put Davis, the team's usual punt returner, in as the return man instead of defensive back Ryan Smith.
Auburn's coaching staff has put in hard work to get the team to where it is now. It's important to remember that two years ago, in the 2012 season, the Tigers were 3-9. In a single year under Malzahn, we were SEC champions.
This year, we've lost twice already, yet we're still in the top 10 and are the highest ranked two-loss team in the nation.
Luck plays no part in Auburn having one of the best offensive lines in the country.
Luck didn't give Cameron Artis-Payne 1,190 rushing yards on 208 carries, making him the top rusher in the conference.
Luck didn't make Auburn the top rushing offense nationally in 2013, and it certainly wasn't what put Tre Mason in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
This year the media seems to be on the edge of their seats, watching anxiously for Auburn to lose and break this unnatural string of miracles.
We have lost, twice, and each time because of mistakes that could have easily been avoided.
Wolken claimed a majority of Auburn fans will say we lost the Texas A&M game because our luck ended, when most fans have said we lost because our defense couldn't tackle and gave up too many points to recover from.
Any good team in the top level of college football is going to need a bit of luck to be champions.
A fumble recovery is lucky. Two seasons of remaining in the top 10, despite losses, is not luck. It's hard work and dedication.
It's long days of practice over scorching summers and nights of film study after hard defeats.
It's our players and our coaches that have determined their place in college football, not Lady Luck.
(11/06/14 2:30pm)
Chances are, if you're in college, you've decided to invest thousands of dollars and at least four years into an education so you can have your ideal career after graduating.
But a degree doesn't guarantee a job.
Unemployment, while improved, is still at 5.9 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' website.
There are a number of factors in getting hired, such as personality, resumes and references, but a major factor in getting hired is prior experience.
Many people know the frustration of applying for a job and seeing an application in which employers say they want at least three to five years of prior experience.
There lies the problem.
How can anyone get enough experience to be hired when entry-level jobs require prior experience?
The difficulty of finding a job after graduation can depend largely on one's major as well.
Some majors, such as chemical engineering, have much higher employment rates than others, such as English.
Some colleges in Auburn help students with the job market more than others.
Students can help their chances by getting as much experience as they can during school.
They need to be proactive during their time at Auburn, actively seeking out internships, part-time jobs or volunteering during their free time at places related to their field.
Unfortunately, universities contribute to the problem too.
Students can take dozens of classes in their field without getting any experience that could be put on a resume.
Majors vary in the experience they demand from students as well.
There are some majors that require internships and will find them for you and others that require internships students to find themselves, and still others, which do not require internships at all.
The University should encourage professors to include hands-on experience in their classes, such as opportunities to job shadow and bringing in professionals to talk about their experiences.
Students also shouldn't be shy when applying for jobs.
If a job calls for three to five years of prior experience, apply anyway, even if you have none.
Companies are often willing to overlook no experience in return for gaining a loyal employee, and the worst thing that could happen is not getting the job.
The University has done well with the Career Center.
It is free for students and offers assistance with resumes, mock interviews and job searches.
There are ways to get experience before entering the job market and there are ways around getting jobs without experience.
Seeing prior experience written on a job application comes with a host of frustrations and stigmas, but don't let it deter you from your pursuit of your career.
(10/30/14 1:30pm)
Bruce Pearl became the head basketball coach last April and has already established himself as one of the most involved coaches on campus.
In an attempt to stir interest in Auburn's basketball program, Pearl has often been seen throughout campus participating in different events.
He visits students in the hospital, goes to classrooms and takes part in local charity events.
A video of him crashing a marketing class to give a speech promoting The Pearl Jam with the pep band, cheerleaders and a basketball team member went viral last week.
A Google search of Pearl's name brings up dozens of articles from recent weeks mentioning his involvement in classrooms.
Similar searches of the names of Karen Hoppa, Auburn's soccer coach, and Sunny Golloway, Auburn's baseball coach, showed their most recent articles dated from last year.
A search of Terri Williams-Flournoy, Auburn's women's basketball coach, revealed her most recent articles to be from two years ago.
Pearl's involvement has students talking on and offline
His efforts might have greatly improved student participation and morale in the upcoming basketball games.
We'll see how much his efforts have paid off Nov. 7, when the men's basketball season officially starts.
Other athletic coaches should take notice
of his involvement strategy.
Attendance, especially in women's sports, is typically poor. It can be hard to draw a crowd during the fall season at a university focused on football.
We believe promoting the games in ways similar to Pearl will increase student attendance.
The soccer team also has a good promotion strategy in the clothing they wear on their game days with shirts that say "Soccer Game at 7 p.m. Tonight."
However, promoting games isn't the only reason coaches should become more involved on campus.
Getting to know students outside of athletics also shows students that coaches care for students and organizations outside of their department.
The athletics department can seem to be a separate entity from the University by students who aren't directly involved with athletics.
This separation leads to disinterest and a lack of support for the teams that don't receive the overwhelming attention football gets.
Creating a connection by talking and visiting with students, as well as showing interest outside of a coach's own team, can spark interest and support in the student community.
We'd like to see more coaches be involved, such as Golloway, Williams-Flournoy, Hoppa, swimming coach Brett Hawke, diving coach Jeff Shaffer and softball coach Clint Myers.
They could get involved around campus by getting to know students outside of the athletics department.
Coaches care about their teams and they care about the outcome of their season scores. But they should be able to show Auburn students they care about their fan base too.
(10/14/14 6:00pm)
Amidst all the pink colors splashed on buildings, on sports teams' jerseys and on ribbons across America, it is hard to miss October is breast cancer awareness month.
With all the hype from breast cancer awareness, it is important to remember to donate to a charity that matters to you and spends money wisely.
Donating to the various charities that support breast cancer is a worthy cause. Funding for research, prevention and the search for a cure is needed.
However, be sure you know all the facts before you hand over any money to the charity of your choice.
Unfortunately, some non-profit organizations have data showing they don't wisely donate their profits in the fight against breast cancer. Some organizations pay large amounts of their donated dollars to various sponsors and administrators of the group, resulting in a limited amount of funding actually going towards research.
According to vice.com, the NFL's breast cancer campaign, "A Crucial Catch," does not raise much funding towards breast cancer at all. Vice.com said "the NFL's claim of 100 percent proceeds from auction and 100 percent proceeds from retail has translated to an average of just $1.1 million every year since they partnered with ACS six years ago. That's less than .01 percent of the approximately $10 billion the league made in revenue last year."
There are ways to find out the spending history of the charities you donate to. Greatnonprofits.org offers reviews from people around the United States on their experiences with different charities. Charitywatch.com gives grades to various charities based upon their spending habits and the effectiveness of their fundraising. Charitynavigator.org evaluates financial documents turned into the government by charities and rates them based on their spending, fundraising, administrative costs, accountability and transparency.
Each of these websites allows you to search through hundreds of charities, raising funding for all different types of problems throughout the US, from breast cancer awareness to Alzheimer's to humane societies to media accuracy.
While we definitely need more funding for breast cancer, you should donate to a charity that means something to you if you donate. Don't donate just because of the hype an organization may create.
If Alzheimer's is a disease close to your heart, donate to them. If your mother was stricken by colon cancer, send money to colon cancer research.
Also, in college, students may not be able to afford to donate cash. But you can always donate your time. Many non-profit organizations have walks to raise awareness and money for breast cancer. Volunteers can help plot the racecourse, hand out packets of info or walk in the event.
However you choose to donate, whether it be by giving money, giving time or passing on knowledge, get involved with a charity this year and see what impact you can make on someone else's life and on yours.
(10/09/14 1:30pm)
Clemson University disbanded 24 fraternities on campus after a sophomore died while with his fraternity brothers.
According to CNN.com, Tucker Hipps, 19, went on a run with his fraternity brothers and somehow became separated. Officers discovered Hipps' body underneath a bridge that afternoon. Coroners said they suspect he fell from the bridge and died from blunt force trauma.
There is no official evidence that suggests Hipps died as a result of hazing.
The suspended fraternities were investigated this semester for a variety of issues "ranging from alcohol related medical emergencies to sexual misconduct," said Student Affairs Vice President Gail DiSabatino in a press release from Clemson.
Auburn University has done an exemplary job of controlling fraternity incidents on an individualized level.
In the past couple years, few fraternities have faced suspension or disbandment because of this dangerous kind of induction.
Auburn University has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hazing. When hazing is discovered on campus, Auburn is good about stepping in and enforcing punishments.
Suspending all fraternities is extreme when not all of the fraternities have had hazing incidents. The punishments should vary based upon the incident.
Accidental alcohol poisoning should be treated in a manner different from leaving pledges blindfolded on a hike without water or shoes, as seen at California State Northridge last semester.
National fraternities also investigate and carry out punishments on their own.
Last year, when hazing was discovered at Auburn's own Sigma Chi chapter, the Sigma Chi National Fraternity intervened and suspended the chapter until at least 2015.
Clemson University could have let Sigma Phi Epsilon's National Fraternity intervene and take care of the situation through investigation and, if necessary, punishment.
There is one area Auburn could improve, however. During rush season, rumors of hazing across fraternities float often, but seem to go unreported. Those rumors, if believed to be substantial, should always be reported.
Alabama is a duty-to-report state, which means that being aware of hazing and not reporting it is illegal.
If you are witnessing or subject to hazing in any organization, you can call Auburn's hazing hotline at 334-844-4564.
(10/02/14 1:30pm)
Class schedules, when done correctly, are planned and organized well before the semester starts.
Some students commute an hour or more to and from classes and have chosen their schedules based on days they can drive to campus.
Many students have part-time or full-time jobs on top of memberships in clubs and sports that must be woven into going to class, along with attempts to get necessary amounts of sleep and still have some semblance of a social life.
This careful balance sets the stage for the rest of the semester.
Within the first few weeks, students try to get into some type of a routine.
Mandatory tests scheduled outside of class times can easily disrupt the balance, causing havoc for students.
Students often complain about professors not remembering that we have other classes.
While this stereotype can be untrue, demanding students take tests outside of class time, with no other options, does not take into account students' other responsibilities.
Having a class scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, but a test at 7 p.m. on Wednesday can force students to frantically search for a cover at work.
Some students may not be able to afford the missed hours. It could come down to paying the electricity bill or taking a test.
Instructors may think that putting the dates for tests on the syllabus is adequate forewarning to any unusual scheduling.
While a date in advance on the syllabus does make planning ahead easier, it still causes problems.
Professors should schedule tests during the class times we have signed up for because those are the times that we have determined works best with our schedules.
Understandably, sometimes material must be done outside of class time.
If it is necessary for students to meet up outside of regular class times, professors should provide flexibility or multiple options for students.
Scheduling tests to fit the professor's schedule without consideration of the student's is unacceptable.
While it can be simple to forget, it is important instructors remember students have just as much difficulty juggling all the responsibilities in their schedules, and should take that into consideration when configuring test times.
(09/29/14 7:14pm)
The increase in technology has led to a decrease in social skills.
This generation faces the unique situation of having limitless information available at all times with a stroke of a fingertip. We are surrounded by it.
Phones have become bed partners, dates, gym buddies, class distractions and homework helpers.
Many routines consist of spending the last hour before bed scrolling through social media on a brightly lit screen and waking up to groggily reach for the phone that has slipped further under the pillow during the night. The brief, forced separation during showers has even been interrupted by more prevalent waterproof cases.
But with this new limb most of us have acquired comes an unexpected consequence, a decline in the ability to interact face-to-face.
Most of us are guilty of using our phones to get out of conversation. Pulling out a phone at a party and pretending to text keeps strangers away and stops you from looking like a loner. Slipping headphones on and walking briskly will keep fliers out of your hands and stop most students from talking to you. Surfing the web at restaurants disposes of any brief silence during dinner dates.
It seems the more features smartphones come up with, the more dependent on being independent we become.
Phone calls and face-to-face conversation have been overtaken by texting. Texting has gotten to the point where people in the same room would rather stare at a screen than at each other.
Luckily, there has been a rise in options to help with the detachment anxiety smartphones have inadvertently provided this generation.
The University hosts not-for-credit classes that offer basic skills needed to interact face-to-face in settings that aren't only professional.
Friends have started phone stacks at restaurants and bars, placing all phones in the middle of the table. The first one to check his or her phone pays for everyone.
Some people have taken to putting away or turning off their phones an hour before bed to avoid temptation.
That's not to say technology hasn't helped communication.
As smartphones and social media have grown, technology has improved travel and meeting people from around the world is now easier than ever.
(09/25/14 3:30pm)
The increase in technology has led to a decrease in social skills.
This generation faces the unique situation of having limitless information available at all times with a stroke of a fingertip. We are surrounded by it.
Phones have become bed partners, dates, gym buddies, class distractions and homework helpers.
Many routines consist of spending the last hour before bed scrolling through social media on a brightly lit screen and waking up to groggily reach for the phone that has slipped further under the pillow during the night. The brief, forced separation during showers has even been interrupted by more prevalent waterproof cases.
But with this new limb most of us have acquired comes an unexpected consequence, a decline in the ability to interact face-to-face.
Most of us are guilty of using our phones to get out of conversation. Pulling out a phone at a party and pretending to text keeps strangers away and stops you from looking like a loner. Slipping headphones on and walking briskly will keep fliers out of your hands and stop most students from talking to you. Surfing the web at restaurants disposes of any brief silence during dinner dates.
It seems the more features smartphones come up with, the more dependent on being independent we become.
Phone calls and face-to-face conversation have been overtaken by texting. Texting has gotten to the point where people in the same room would rather stare at a screen than at each other.
Luckily, there has been a rise in options to help with the detachment anxiety smartphones have inadvertently provided this generation.
The University hosts not-for-credit classes that offer basic skills needed to interact face-to-face in settings that aren't only professional.
Friends have started phone stacks at restaurants and bars, placing all phones in the middle of the table. The first one to check his or her phone pays for everyone.
Some people have taken to putting away or turning off their phones an hour before bed to avoid temptation.
That's not to say technology hasn't helped communication.
As smartphones and social media have grown, technology has improved travel and meeting people from around the world is now easier than ever.
(09/18/14 6:00pm)
Jordan-Hare has always been a special place.
During football season, it's the heart of the raw energy that is the Auburn spirit. Even after the season ends, students look to the stadium as an integral part of Auburn's campus and history.
Much like the football team, the stadium has seen its share of ups and downs. However, it has remained a beacon for the Auburn Family since 1939.
For the past few years, the amenities at Jordan-Hare have been sorely lacking. Overpriced food, water and cramped seating have made it seem more like a NFL stadium than a college one.
Perhaps this was due to the collapsing national economy; perhaps the athletic department was hurting for money.
We can't say. However, we are pleased to see the athletic department making changes for the better.
Now, water is $2, half the price it used to be, and hotdogs are $1 cheaper. More free water stations have also been installed, saving fans even more money. The student section has also been expanded.
These improvements may seem small, but we think they are a step in the right direction.
All too often, sports venues are centers for greed and price gouging.
They function under the mentality of milking fans for every last dollar.
Anyone who's been to a professional football, basketball or baseball game in the last 10 years can attest to this.
Because sports, whether professional or college, are a big industry, venues are allowed to get away with this graft. Fans either pay up or watch the game on TV.
It's great to see Auburn beginning to buck this trend.
After all, without the fans, the Tigers would just be a bunch of guys running around on a field.
The recent improvements are the athletic department's show of loyalty, a recognition of the people who keep them employed.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
In the future, we would love to see cheaper student tickets and a better system for selling them.
Anything the athletic department can do to make the game day experience more affordable, and therefore more enjoyable, is something we will support.
As loyal fans, we greatly appreciate these gestures of gratitude.
We look forward to what the next few years have in store for Jordan-Hare.
(09/12/14 7:30pm)
In 2009, a photo of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps smoking a bong caused him to lose a sponsorship from Kellogg's. He was also suspended from USA Swimming for three months.
The year before, he won eight gold medals.
When the photo was released, he was crucified by the media.
All his achievements were completely ignored, and his name was dragged through the mud by every self-righteous pundit in the country.
This past July, Nick Marshall faced a similar scandal.
Marshall was cited for possession of marijuana.
He was fined $1,000, which his mother paid, and was not allowed to start in the season opener against Arkansas.
Much like Phelps, Marshall became the focus of undeserved media outrage.
He was called everything from a drug addict to a thug. His stellar performance as quarterback during the 2013 season was pushed to the side.
There is a problem with these stories, but it has nothing to do with these men getting high.
The problem is how we, as fans and as a society, react whenever people we look up to, such as Phelps and Marshall, get caught smoking marijuana.
While the public opinion of marijuana may be shifting, the old fears and stigmas hold firm when it comes to athletes, especially college football players.
They aren't allowed to make mistakes. We expect them to follow an ill-defined yet strict moral code. Perhaps worst of all, we think we have a say in how they live their lives.
So when one of them does make a mistake, we get offended and think it's our job to chastise and correct them.
It's time to stop punishing college athletes for doing the same thing other college kids, and millions of other people, do every day.
It's time to stop expecting them to be punished by the University as well as the criminal justice system.
Not letting Marshall start was ridiculous.
It served no purpose other than to placate those who chose to be offended by his actions.
Marshall was not on steroids; he didn't commit armed robbery or beat his wife, but many still expected him to punished as if he had done these things.
If Marshall, or any other athlete chooses to smoke, it's none of our business.
If they get caught, their punishment should be the responsibility of the criminal justice system; that's it.
While the state and federal laws making marijuana illegal may not change anytime soon, the way we look at people who do smoke certainly can change.
(09/08/14 6:00pm)
On Monday, Aug. 26, Michael Brown was laid to rest. Since then, Ferguson, Missouri has been quiet.
Although media attention has started to shift from the troubled town, the wounds caused by Brown's death and the subsequent riots are still fresh. As a nation, we haven't even begun to process what happened.
Because Officer Darren Wilson, the police officer who allegedly shot Brown, will not face a grand jury until October, there will be no sign of closure for Brown's family, Ferguson or the rest of America for quite some time.
But it's never too soon to start talking about all the issues this tragedy has forced to the surface.
The events in Ferguson have busted the national conversation on race wide open. The relationship between police and minorities has come under extreme scrutiny. We are at tipping a point, on the crest of a wave about to break into what could be peace or catastrophe.
Brown's death is only one of the more recent examples of a law enforcement officer killing an unarmed suspect. Unfortunately, this trend of brutality has been mostly focused on the black community.
While anyone can be the victim of excessive force, it would be a great disservice to the memory of Brown and those who died before him to not acknowledge the role race plays in this ongoing dilemma.
Of course, this is a problem with roots stretching back to the birth of our country, and to use our limited space to suggest a quick fix is foolhardy at best. We could call for peace and understanding, but our calls would not rise above the din of anger and confusion.
Although we do not condone riots or violence against anyone, we believe this anger is justified. For too long, people of all races have been victimized by an increasingly aggressive police force.
We don't feel like the police are a part of the community anymore. They have become a fringe element that we fear and do not trust.
For many, the police represent a failed ideal, a damaged part of the American dream.
However, this doesn't mean we have to give up.
After all, the police are not space aliens we can't communicate with.
They are humans.
We have to hold them accountable for their actions. We have to use our power as citizens to break through the walls of secrecy and corruption. We have to demand better.
By knowing our rights and standing up for them, we can stem the tide of violence that has become synonymous with law enforcement.
Although it's hard to think about that now, there are lessons to be learned from Ferguson. Like the L.A. riots in 1992 and the Watts riots in 1965, this horror has a purpose.
The mistakes that led to Ferguson belong to all Americans, and we have to learn from them if we expect anything to change.