An open letter to Dean McKaig

Enough is enough. As much as I respect your position of authority, as a student, I question your refusal to apply campus rules equally. You have allowed a group of war-protesters to violate a University code. Perhaps you need a refresher. The code reads, "Overnight camping is not a form of expression and, therefore, permission will not be granted to cook or live in overnight structures." Certainly seems to me that you've granted these protesters permission.\nLet me brief you on the situation, since you've "turned your head the other way." The perpetrator here, the Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, has lived in Dunn Meadow since almost immediately after the Sept. 11 attack on Americans. The Dunn Meadow 'residents' have cooked, built unsafe fires, and lived in unsanitary quarters. The group has also trashed the once-pretty Dunn Meadow field. \nWhat has been labeled a "peace protest" has unsurprisingly turned into a 24/7 hippie festival lasting over half a year. Most of the campers are not students anyway. Not only are the students of the group afforded the unfair permission to occupy Dunn Meadow, but the non-students also are given free real estate! (Readers: Don't want to pay rent or get a job? Come live in Dunn Meadow and embarrass our campus!)\nDean McKaig, you've received complaints against this group's violation. Even if you had not, you should be aware of campus codes and should justify your hefty salary by enforcing those codes. I implore you to do something about these protesters. You've had the authority to take action since their first day of residing in Dunn Meadow. You've allowed their occupation to persist, so I guess it'll be a little embarrassing to admit your boo-boo now, won't it?\nI call on you also to apologize to IU students who must see the disgusting display of anti-American sentiment that has been given special privileges. You should apologize also to parents who send their children here and expect an equal application of campus rules. You should also apologize to students and their families who have visited our campus while seeking a university.\nNo matter how much you sympathize with anti-defense, radical hippie views, you are obligated as the Dean of Students to uphold campus rules. It wasn't that long ago that a group called the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (bringing with them the Genocide Awareness Project-remember them?) tried to come to campus and set up near Woodburn Hall. The University refused, and even went to court to fight them. Now that you've bent over backwards to help the Peace Coalition camp out, your favoritism is blatantly obvious.\nThe Bloomington Peace Action Coalition's Web site touts that they are "the longest-lasting Peace Camp in the United States." Okay, you've helped them achieve their goal. Now, you can tell them to leave feeling good that you've propagated the radical anti-war sentiment; they can leave smug, knowing that you broke the rules to help them reach their fame. From your perspective, everyone who matters will be happy.\nAnd I'll be happy, too. The camp has violated University code and made a mockery of our campus. It's time campers take the tents down, pack up and go home. Party-time's over.