1975-12-05

              The RecorcI

STUDENT PUBLICATION OF ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY VOLUME 88, NO. 10                          • COLLEGEVILLE, MN  56321 •                            December 5, 1975

SJU crime wave only a ripple

Pat Cheeley

By Mark Premo

Ever wonder whether your shifty-eyed roommate, the weird guy down the hall, or even your faculty resident was actually a drug pusher, a hired assassin or maybe a Mafia kingpin?

If so, chances are you've just been watching too many kiddie TV shows recently. According to Stearns County deputy sheriff Patrick Cheeley, "There is no crime at St. John's, only good students."

Indeed, aside from one violent exception, St. John's has enjoyed virtual freedom from felonies thus far this year. That exception occurred at 10 p.m. one evening around Homecoming weekend when a young  married  woman

was raped in her parked car in front of the library.

In light of this as of yet unsolved crime, the decrease in the number of campus misdemeanors seems hardly significant, however commendable. The most common misdemeanor is still theft by students from students. "Stereo equipment seems to attract the most attention," Cheeley said, "though my office never hears about many such incidents because these items are frequently covered by some kind of homeowner's insurance."

Cheeley remarked that the open transom is the petty thiefs easiest and most frequent means of  gaining   entry   into   a   dorm

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MPIRG gets nod from SEC

In action taken November 2, the Student Executive Council (SEC) voted 13-1 to become the collecting agent for the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) by raising next semester's student activity fee to $16.50 from its present $15 figure.

All students registering for spring courses will automatically be assessed the additional $1.50 in their billing statement, but will have the option of filling out a card at the time of registration requesting the money be refunded. This collection method has been called the "negative checkoff system.

Other colleges in Minnesota, including St. Ben's, employ a "positive checkoff whereby students are not automatically charged, but rather agree to contribute to MPIRG by filling out a card indicating their wish

to pay the fee.

MPIRG, a non-partisan, nonprofit, student-controlled corporation, employes a full-time professional staff of researchers, lawyers and organizers. The group is currently pursuing projects in the areas of environmental quality, consumer protection, higher education and government.

SEC member Mark Muedeking is MPIRG's representative at St. John's and is now in the process of forming a local board. He explained the SEC's decision to go with the negative rather than the positive checkoff system.

"With the negative checkoff MPIRG obviously collects more money because a lot of students don't really care that much one way or the other," he said. "You might say we're taking advantage of the apathetic student, but

I really believe it's to his advantage, whether he realizes it or not."

John Mathias, SEC chairman, was the only member of the council to vote against the motion. "I don't believe it's the function of a student government to be a collecting agent for any outside group," he said.

According to MPIRG policy, in order to establish a local board on any college campus, over 50 j percent of the full-time students v'must first sign a petition agreeing to a $1.50 per semester fee in support of MPIRG's goals. Muedeking     collected     more     than enough signatures at the end of last year.

Muedeking mentioned that those interested in helping to form a local board for MPIRG, can contact either him or Joe Wentzell for more  information.

room. Windows, especially those in Tommy where the outside ledge affords ready access, are another favorite.

The costliest thefts on file this year include the theft of a tape player and 24 tapes valued at $257, a wallet containing $3 or $4 in cash and a check for $186, two $90 rugs stolen from the library, and a $55 cassette player.

Keeping up on parking lot violations is one of Cheeley's more routine duties. The lots are patrolled twice a day.and violators are slapped (via campus mail) with a $5 fine. Cheeley has yet to issue a speeding ticket this year (though he keeps threatening to).

Drug and alcohol abuse are not serious problems for the security force. No arrest for the possession or sale of any drug has been made this year. Keggers and the like are generally run responsibly and Cheeley's feeling is that "as long as the student hurts no one else or their property, I don't see the need for us to give him any more trouble than he already has."

Drunk driving isn't particularly widespread, or at least getting caught for it isn't. Most Johnnies are presumably either too drunk or too cheap to drive come the wee hours of the morning, leaving their dates to enjoy the luxuries of the 1:45 a.m. Bennie Express.

Cheeley outlined several guidelines for minimizing the chances of burglary (currently on the rise because of Christmas vacation and the quick get-away for ill-gotten goods it affords):

1.    Keep all  doors  and   windows locked

2.    Lock transom tightly

3.    Use a lock whenever storing articles at the Palaestra

4.    Never  leave  your   valuables unguarded