When graduating from high school, I looked forward to the exciting endeavors that lay ahead in my quest for higher education. Much to my dismay, I arrived at Prairie View High rather than Prairie View A&M University. The same immaturity that I found in the halls of my secondary educating facility, I found in the halls of my “second, secondary educating facility.” At first, I felt that the students failed to realize that this was an institution of higher education. I am greatly concerned with the caliber of students attending this institution which was founded with the sole purpose of giving black Americans an opportunity to elevate their minds. Unfortunately, this issue is due to flaws in the admissions policy. I am greatly apprehensive of my safety on this campus. The latter is mainly due to a lack of adequate security.
I have many complaints that probably won’t be read by the majority of the students because most people will pick up the paper only to read the infamous 20 Questions. So, I have a few questions of my own. Hopefully this will get my point across: Who feels safe on this campus? How many people on this campus have guns? Who carries guns as a result of not feeling safe? Who hasn’t been jumped by freshmen? Why is it that the faculty makes excuses for the absence of safety on this campus? Who came into this university with higher than a 2.0 GPA and a 900 on the SAT? Why is it that scholarship recipients lose their financial aid for making a 2.9 two semesters in two semesters in a row and have to go home, but those who engage in behavior that is prohibted don’t lose a dime? How many people have been here four years and not passed the TASP? How many of those people are making an honest effort to pass the TASP? Is this Club PV? How many people feel above the law in a white tee? Who has ever heard of a gang called Dallas? How many people were offended by any of these questions? How many people are actually going to do something to change the state of this academic community? If you were offended by these questions and are not going to do anything to rectify the situation, why don’t you just leave?
When I applied to college I knew that I was leaving the safety of my parents’ wing. I did not however believe that I would have to compromise my safety and morals to attend a black campus. I find it exceedingly disappointing that there are students getting hurt in a parking lot, hit by cars, assaulted in their own dorms, jumped at a stop sign, smoking “the ganja,” and there are no police officers or security guards in sight. I understand not being accessible one time. But, when there are repeated incidents in a general area, shouldn’t there be heightened security? How many more people have to be beaten up, or seriously hurt before this university recognizes that there is a problem?
If there is not going to be a change in the treatment of this disease, then we must inhibit the source. If you are not going to demand my safety, Prairie View A&M University, then demand quality in the students you accept. I have one last thought to leave with those offended by my comments: Don’t get angry; get even. Change begins with one person, and that one person could be you.