The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Opinions

Risky railroads

Crossing tracks illegally could mean tarnished records or tragic fatalities

It's easy to laugh off some safety laws that seem impractical. Many students cross over the railroad tracks by the N08 parking lot without thinking twice about the dangers involved, but freak accidents do happen.

Sure, when you're running late for your 8 a.m. class carrying books on your back and coffee in your hand, the temptation to take the shortcut over the tracks is hard to resist - it's only a few feet.

Those feet, though, could mean the difference between retaining a clean record and prosecution for criminal trespassing, or a safe walk to class and a devastating fatality.

An extreme example of train accidents happened just a week ago to a sophomore from the University of South Carolina.

Police suggest that Robert Campbell, 20, and three friends were holding on to a train in Newberry County when he fell off. They suspect he was hit by the rail car and killed immediately.

Although trains rarely run through Athens, the safety risks remain, and we advise students to cross tracks cautiously and legally.

Spokespeople from the Great Walton Railroad encourage students to cross at designated areas, use the overhead passes and avoid climbing around standing railroad equipment, as reported in today's front page story of The Red & Black.

Additionally, students can be prosecuted for criminal trespassing on the railroad's private property when caught crossing tracks in undesignated areas.

We hope students abide by the law and keep safety in mind by walking a little farther - to quote your mom, better safe than sorry.

- Kelly Shaul for the editorial board

Gun legislation

Self-defense not strong enough reason to legalize students carrying weapons

University students packing heat may be a sign of the future if state lawmakers pass legislation that would allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus, according to today's Red & Black page three story.

We are as concerned as anybody about campus safety, but the way to combat the problems created by guns in schools is not more guns.

A law such as this would be counterintuitive. Guns are not the issue in campus safety. The problem is the psychological state of the people who use them to murder fellow students.

We saw what happened when guns got into the wrong hands at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. Imagine the devastating effects possible if students were allowed to carry guns legally.

Proponents of the law argue the possibility that students could be armed is a deterrent for a rogue gunman, but this is not a strong enough argument to back a law as drastic as this proposition.

Although the intent behind this proposed legislation is self-defense, many students would not carry a gun. This could inspire fear in some, for example, if they knew their lab partner carried a gun and became fearful of how he or she might react in a tight situation.

An atmosphere of fear is not the aim of any university, but by allowing weapons in a learning environment, some students may be more fearful of attending classes.

Instead of the state focusing on how students can react to a situation, perhaps they should be more proactive and focus on programs that would help identify potential threats.

- Melanie McNeely for the editorial board

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