Security Beat: Golf Cart Joyriding and End of the Semester Mischief

SAMI www.whatsmyname.org Source: John Blaisdell, Director of Safety and Security, www.whatsmyname.org

Marist College’s campus is always bustling with activity as the end of the semester approaches, but lately, students have kept the Office of Safety and Security especially busy with mischief. 

On March 24, a staff member reported a stolen folding chair from Donnelly Hall. Another instance of larceny occurred on April 12, with a student reporting AirPods stolen from the Marketplace Fitness Center. Admissions signs were stolen on April 17 by a student who has since been reported to conduct. Unfortunately, chairs were broken by the fire pits on the campus green, and an LP canister was stolen. 

Two false identifications were confiscated on April 2 from Marian Hall and Donnelly Hall. On April 8, another false identification was confiscated in Upper West Cedar.

Also, on April 2, damage was reported to exit signs in Lavelle Hall. Graffiti, identified as indescribable doodles, was reported in a Leo Hall bathroom on April 3. A fire alarm strobe box was damaged on April 8 in Champagnat Hall. On April 12, an exit sign was reported broken in Leo Hall. In Upper West Cedar, damaged light globes were reported on April 16. 

Once again, damage was reported in the second-floor bathroom of Marian Hall on April 17. This time, there was a hole in the wall and damage to the tiling. 

On April 5, a marijuana drug violation was reported in Lower West Cedar in relation to a fire alarm. A similar situation occurred on April 8 in Midrise. Room inspections at the beginning of Easter weekend resulted in four drug violations on April 14, with one instance in Leo, two in Champagnat, and another in Upper Fulton. 

A hit-and-run was reported on April 6 in St. Ann’s lot, followed by a separate hit-and-run incident being reported a week later on April 13 in the Fontaine lot.

On April 9, a student took a golf cart from Steel Plant for a joyride, and on April 10, in a separate incident, another student went golf cart joyriding on Terminal Road. Then, on April 23, when an RD was responding to a call at Lower West Cedar, three students stole their golf cart and overturned it. All of the students involved in golf cart incidents were referred to conduct.

John Blaisdell, Director of Safety and Security, sent an email to students to remind them of precautions to take when using Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft after attending a conference. The precautions in the announcement were shared as an acronym: SAMI. Stop, Ask, Match, Inform.

Although many students also often utilize the local cab services, informing others of where you are, where you are going, and sharing a live location with those you trust could be beneficial as basic safety precautions. More information on Rideshare safety can be found at www.whatsmyname.org. 

With the end of the semester and its accompanying celebrations quickly approaching, Blaisdell wanted to remind students to “just be safe. If you need help, call a friend; if you need more than that, call us [Security]. We’re here to help you.” Students are reminded of the importance of helping fellow students in need and that Marist Security can be reached at 845-471-1822. Have a safe and fun end of the school year, foxes.