Carroll vandalism
In response to the story about Carroll Academy seniors vandalizing their school ( “14 Carroll seniors suspended,” April 20):
Do I think the young adults involved in this should be reprimanded?
Yes, I do. However, I do not believe that anything they did was “expulsion or criminal charge” worthy. It was a harmless prank in which no person was harmed.
Was there minor destruction done? Yes, empyting drinks on the floor causes a mess. Has this been blown way out of proportion? Absolutely!
These students have been suspended from school for four days and also will have points deducted from their classroom averages. This could potentially cause some of them to not be eligible for graduation. These kids have worked hard their entire lives to be able to graduate from high school and start the next chapter of their lives.
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Vandalism in any form or fashion is the destruction and defacement of property. Vandalism costs schools money that could otherwise be used for educational purposes or school activities. The existence of vandalized property at schools degrades the campus environment.
It doesn’t matter if it was paper cups, toilet paper, food, etc. These items were destroyed and are not usable. These students destroyed things that did not belong to them.
These students cannot blame anyone but themselves for their act of vandalism. They made a choice, the wrong choice.
The school headmaster, the staff and the board should not in any way be held accountable for these acts of vandalism.
Not only should these students be suspended for the four days and points taken away from their average, they should not walk with the class or receive any of their honors, cords, etc.
Donna Oliver
I was really disappointed at Tim Kalich’s Sunday op-ed column (“Oliver doesn’t seem rooted to MVSU”).
The column was one-sided and biased. I expected his opinion to be more impartial and objective. He only voiced the concerns of those who oppose Donna Oliver, the president of Mississippi Valley State University. You should have tried to find faculty and staff who have different views from those battling the president and her administration. Most people are fearful to have any saying much less to speak to the press, since there is such an oppressive climate on campus.
As a faculty member, I have not received a raise in five years. I don’t blame it on the current administration. Instead, I blame it on my lazy colleagues who give a mediocre service to our students, who discourage the young people who come to our school, and who give the least amount of effort to educate them.
