Curing boredom one shot at a time

There have been 10 crime reports involving weapons on campus this semester. From hearing gunshots on campus and pellet gun confiscations, to concealed weapons, it has students feeling unsafe.

On the first week of classes, students were distributed their 2004-2005 Student Planners. In the Handbook portion of the planner, under “Community Standards” there is a section on Misconduct. Quoted directly beside one of the bullets of misconduct a student would be disciplined for is: “Possession or use of firearms or other weapons capable of inflicting injury or damage. Hunting or trapping with any form of weapon or trap (other than a mousetrap) is prohibited on campus (fishing is not interpreted as hunting).”

Leo Therrien, director of security at Virginia Wesleyan, was unable to go into detail involving the weapons.

When asked what measures would be taken to control the weapons coming onto campus, he said, “You can’t control it.”

According to VWC privacy policies, students are never subjected to any form of random search unless there is plausible evidence to do so; so pretty much anything could make its way on campus. Security just has to hope that students have good enough judgment not to bring harmful substances or objects with them.

At times, students find having their ID cards checked at the front gate intrusive.

“I’m just trying to protect these kids,” Therrien said.

Security does the best job it can, by patrolling the campus 24 hours a day, and monitoring the front gate at all times. However, lack of funding has left security guards without the proper materials to make our campus as safe as it can be.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries involving students on campus. The shots have been limited to firing in the air or shots aimed at birds or squirrels.

More recently, there have been reports of gunshots coming from Village III. They have occurred late at night and are heard by residents.

However, some residents were not aware of the guns at all.

“I never even knew there were people firing guns, period,” said senior Kari Stover, a resident of Village III. “I’m scared now that I know about it.”

Another resident of Village III, senior Erin Ferguson, was concerned whether or not the students intoxicated while firing the guns.

“If they’re intoxicated shooting things, then I’m really scared now,” she said. “Their judgment could be off.”

But the actual suspects contest the lack of safety involving the guns.

“They’re actually meant to be shot at people,” said freshman Chris Matthies, one of the students caught with an Airsoft gun.

“It’s like paintball for indoors,” freshman Nick Foley said, another one of the students who had a pellet gun confiscated.

Airsoft guns, which are sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods, shoot small rubber-like pellets, leaving small welts if shot at close range.

“They left small welts,” said Matthies. “It was just a quick little sting.”

The students said they would set up forts in their common room of Kellam Hall and would play games involving the guns. Their intentions weren’t malicious, they said.

The weapons were then discovered after security found small pellets strewn about the common room. Soon they found guns in the student’s rooms and confiscated them.

“They just took it away,” said Matthies. “They didn’t do anything else.”

The students said they would receive the guns back after the semester. However, if they are caught with the guns again, they will receive five hours community service.

Pricing at only $20 per gun, they are fairly easy to buy.

“It really depends on how bored you get,” said Foley.

Both students are unsure if they want to take a risk and bring the guns back to the dorms.

“A bunch of us just decided to buy them one night,” said Matthies. “We thought it would be a good idea.”

Just last March, three Wesleyan students were prime suspects in three animal slayings involving pellet guns. Two were raccoons-one discovered in lot “K” by a dumpster and another found by maintenance a few days prior to the first discovery.

One of the animals discovered killed was a Great Horned Owl, a federally protected endangered species. That case was turned over to the Virginia Wildlife Commission.