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Many college students believe that police officers mistreat them. They perceive that police officers could be doing much more important things than picking on them while they’re trying to have fun at Five Points. These people need to rethink their perceptions, and for God’s sake, drink some OJ, take a chaser, get up, and do their homework for once.
If you’re under 21 and complain about cops in Five Points, reach into your wallet. What’s that? A fake ID? Shut up, you deserved it.
To everyone 21 and up, I’ll take a more nuanced approach. Despite what many think, Five Points is actually one of the most crime-infested places in Columbia. Look it up on the crime density maps. So your argument that the police shouldn’t be there is out the window. But why are they picking on you instead of the “real” criminals — those scary coke-dealers that shoot everyone? It’s because, for starters, college students are important assets that this state wants to keep safe. Also, while they are waiting for those coke-dealers to come along, they have the right to fill their quotas by utilizing your stupidity. Plus, you may be the biggest threat.
In 2006, 17,030 people were murdered in the United States. Compare that to 17,491 people killed in alcohol-related collisions in 2006. In 2006, 359 people were murdered in South Carolina, while 477 were killed by drunk drivers. So when a cop cracks down on you for being a little “tipsy,” as many college students so innocuously put it, you should know why.
All over the country, college students have this hatred of the “po po” for simply doing their jobs. Where did all this hatred come from? Is this the echo of Kent State? I suppose the rumor was passed from friend to friend of how some stupid “pig” ruined their “Naturday.” Yes, there must be quite a few times where cops have mistreated college students, but I guarantee college students mistreat cops much more frequently.
Next time you hear a story from your friend about how “the man” kept him down, remember it was he, not the officer, who was A. drunk, B. stoned and C. urinating on a parking meter. If cops were as evil as many say they are, frat boys would be the ones wearing the badges.
So next time an officer asks you a few questions, don’t yell at him. Don’t say that you have rights; argue your rights when you’re in court and fully clothed, not naked in the fountain. Don’t say you have a 3.5 GPA; he’ll say you have a .35 BAC. Don’t sniff and say you smell bacon; if I were the officer I’d make you smell pavement. And for God’s sake, don’t scream “Don’t tase me bro!” Have some decency, have some respect, and realize that these men are risking their lives for little pay to protect you. You owe them that.
