A man with what appeared to be a military rifle ran past the first-floor windows in Lalumiere Hall around 7: 45 PM on Oct. 10th. No attribution; I was there, in Rm.,”A man with what appeared to be a military rifle ran past the first-floor windows of Lalumiere Hall around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 10. No attribution; I was there, in room 114 for a meeting of Marquette's feminist group, Empowerment. A half hour ago, the greatest dread looming over me had been my anthropology midterm. Now, there was a man with a rifle outside the window.
One person in the room had the sense to call the Department of Public Safety. We waited. I ran upstairs, to see what was happening.
On the mall, I found my gunman and seven or so more. Another platoon was conducting similar maneuvers across the lawn. They marched, they huddled around platoon leaders' orders, they aimed at air and yelled "Bang!"
I relaxed, slightly. The Reserve Officer Training Corps was just engaging in war games. Still, I could not shake the feeling we were being occupied.
I have great respect for the ROTC; their discipline I can barely contemplate, their choice to carry an essential burden for the cause of liberal democracy. But what transpired on Oct. 10 is inexcusable.
Why are they engaging in war games on a college campus? I cannot imagine there is nowhere else these maneuvers could have taken place. Recruits were marching past Raynor Library's great windows and aiming their weapons at Clybourn Street as cars drove past. Firing squads are not the face for the university to display.
The Virginia Tech atrocity shook us all months ago. Apparently, my school learned nothing from it. If someone on campus is walking around with a gun – even a plastic one – students have a right to know.
Why weren't we told what was happening? No announcements were posted in either student publication or the news update e-mails.
Where was the DPS? A friend of mine called twice and the operator had no idea maneuvers were in operation. Even after callin in a man with a rifle, twice, we never saw an officer. Shouldn't once have been enough?
The failure of communication, on behalf of ROTC, DPS and the administration is unacceptable. We students trusted this university and its institutions with our safety. Something more essential than trust was lost that wet Wednesday night I hope can be earned back.
“