I just saw the news photo depicting UTC's planned new Oak Street Residence Hall, "with a pedestrian corridor running through the building ... ." My immediate thought was, What?! Followed by, Why? Now? In this world? Whose idea was that? Whyever put a pedestrian corridor through a college dormitory, knowing what we know here and now?
Then I saw the adjacent news article describing the arrest of a man for aggravated criminal trespass at UTC's Lockmiller Apartments and for a similar offense at the UTC library.
'Juxtaposition' is a good word, even if it's rarely used - and it surely describes the side-by-side appearance of those two odd bits of local interest.
'Disconnect' is also a good word, in this case as a noun that describes the lack of foresight in Case One above, in light of Case Two.
We're all aware of numerous recurring instances of illegitimate presence on the UTC campus, and of illicit activities while there. And it's not been a year and a half since a female student was murdered at the University of Georgia, Athens. So why on Earth run a 'pedestrian corridor,' a public walkway, through a dorm?
I know, most college buildings have numerous doors on nearly every side, and numerous corridors running every which way through them. And there are various mandatory I.D. cards, door locks, pass cards, security guards, etc. in the name of safety.
In the meantime, though, I have to wonder: Why? And even as I ask that, I seem to hear my dad's almost daily advice: "Mind your own business, Larry!" I do try, honest.
But surely somebody ought to say something, before ... !
Larry Cloud