Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
In the Feb. 7 follow-up story about the theft that occurred at Pepperdine’s villa in Florence, those robbed feel the need to respond to the inaccuracies uttered by the dean of international programs and the director of insurance and risk management, Dr. William Phillips and Dr. John E. Watson, respectively.
Phillips was quoted saying that it is up to students “not to bring valuables that might be stolen, to safeguard them and to carry insurance for their own possessions.” This comment, referring to the robbery while students were on break, misses the real issue of the security breach that occurred.
For most of the month, the two main entrances into the villa were unlocked. Furthermore, all the room keys were left unattended all break in an easily accessible part of the residence. Thus anyone who knew about these two security blunders — presumably everyone who worked in the villa during the month and anyone else who was the least bit interested in the school’s accessibility — had free access to everyone’s belongings.
The most valuable things stolen were two laptop computers, which, in fact, Phillips highly recommended people bring overseas if they so desired. True, we students had the option to leave the computers in the program director’s office (and a few did), but we were also told that our rooms would be locked and supervised. Thus, many people kept their computers in their rooms, and two paid the price for that.
The rest of the things stolen were of significantly less value.
We believe it is evident that the problem was not with complacent students, as the article suggests, but with a security lapse so large that thieves treated the rooms of 41 returning Pepperdine students as a free yard sale. Watson was quoted saying “If common sense were common …” We believe that if common sense were common, Pepperdine would have never allowed our belongings to be so easily stolen and Phillips would not lecture us on the values of safety after he allowed a gross amount of negligence under his watch.
Common sense should also dictate that you do not blame others for your mistakes.
JJ Bowman, Sophomore
Heather Bush, Sophomore
Mike Jones, Sophomore
Derek Olson, Sophomore
Sarah Thompson, Sophomore
Kate Wheeler, Sophomore
March 14, 2002