Armed robberies show students are unsafe
The campus and surrounding areas of USC Columbia have been plagued with a string of armed robberies, encroaching on what’s typically considered the safety of a college campus. While Columbia is a city first and a college campus second, it appears that the disproportionate police coverage on certain areas of Columbia are finally starting to have an effect on students — just not the effect law enforcement was looking for.
Five Points has long been a thorn in the proverbial side of various offices of law enforcement. Commonly seen — albeit accurately — as a hot spot for underage drinking, police and sheriff offices have been cracking down on the illicit acts that students partake in downtown, hoping to stem the desire to head to Five Points for the night. But recently, in light of an increased amount of robberies, it appears that there are more pressing issues and areas that deserve the focus of patrols.
Student safety in and around campus should take priority over attempting to reverse a cultural drinking issue by throwing students in jail. Sure, underage drinking is illegal, and all crimes are crimes nonetheless, but you’d be hard-pressed to argue that armed robberies are less important than students and community members being attacked by thugs carrying weapons on the streets.
Just remember, the next time Carolina Alert lights up with an aggravated assault within the vicinity of campus, rest assured that the police have made sure that another 19-year-old “criminal” was arrested downtown while enjoying a beer.
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