The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Just weeks ago, fragments of metal loosely held together by duct tape littered the Village apartments like a graveyard for Ballard lights that had fallen victim to late-night vandals.

The Ballard lights that previously illuminated the pathways between the different apartment buildings have been replaced by bright orange traffic cones, which have been bolted down in order to protect the exposed wires, the only remnants of the Ballard lights that still remain.

Most of the exposed wires, that is, are covered by the traffic cones. The ones that are not, like the Ballard lights, have been broken away and stolen by vandals.

It all comes down to this: The Ballard lights had to be removed. Yes, it is a shame that they had to be replaced by floodlights, which irritate the occupants of the apartments which they adorn and those below; however, it is ultimately the actions of students either living in the village or passing by that thought, for some ridiculous reason, that kicking a Ballard light would be a good idea that action had to be taken.

Walking in the dark in the middle of Midtown St. Louis is not an option, and lights are necessary for the protection of Village residents and those passing through.

What's a shame is that, even after the temptation of the Ballard lights has been removed, some people have had the gall to remove the orange cones from where they had been bolted down.

Is there no end to the acts of vandalism that continue to occur on our campus?

When will students mature enough to realize that destroying Saint Louis University property is risky, illegal and will ultimately cost them, their fellow students and students who will come after them even more money than they already pay the school?

Let's hope that these vandals stop short of climbing up to the second-floor balconies of the Village apartment complexes, where they might injure themselves worse than just stubbing a toe.

They should realize that the University has noticed their pranks and the frequency with which they occur, and that they could soon result in some serious action being taken against vandals that get caught by the Department of Public Safety.

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