DeKALB | Petty crime has existed for a long time, but as the number of crime-related incidents outside the residence halls increases, almost coincidentally, the number inside them appears to increase as well.

One area hit especially hard has been the first floor of Lincoln Hall's A Wing, where the amount of fines has increased — leaving residents in an outrage.

"Personally, I'm upset by them," said Dan Rosenberg, a sophomore special education major. "The fact that people lack respect for others, I find terrible."

Because no one individual has been found or has come forward for the tampered property, the floor as a whole is held responsible and must pay the fine collectively.

The damages, which range from a broken panel of glass and three stolen shower curtains to walls covered in marker and ripped down bulletin boards, have several residents crying foul about who has to pay for the destruction.

"I understand that we're all getting fined because they can't find the real people who are doing that to this floor," said Marty Smith, a freshman physical therapy major. "But I think it's unfair that we have to pay for other people's actions."

Cara Coyne, a freshman health administration major, expressed similar sentiments: "Yes, we are a community, and I can see where they're coming from by charging us," Coyne said. "But in real life, a community doesn't get charged for someone else's stupidity."

Eric Musselman, Coordinator of Residential Facilities, argues that although the number of fines as of late has been excessive, fining a floor is a rather uncommon occurrence. Also, when it comes to fining an entire floor, they do their absolute best when it comes to finding the individuals responsible for the damages.

"The vast majority of residents respect and take care of the facilities," Musselman said. "When an incident happens that results in excessive cleaning or repairs, we investigate and work to identify exactly who is responsible."

Students also say they have begun to learn to protect themselves from others. They say individual fines have increased as well.

The Guide Post, which was created in part to help students understand residence hall policies, has a list of "community standards," which currently lists 29 different offenses one can be charged for. These standards range from tampering with "life-safety devices" such as fire extinguishers or smoke alarms to possession of alcohol.

Anthony Veal, a freshman industrial engineering major, said he has been fined three times for having his music too loud, a rule that isn't exactly the most concrete. As he lives on a quiet lifestyle floor, Veal, as well as all others, must make sure his music isn't able to be heard from two doors away. If music is too loud, residents are asked to close their doors.

"I think it's uncalled for because these walls are so thin and you can hear it through the door regardless if it's closed," Veal said. "They don't tell you how loud is too loud — they say "two doors down" — but how loud is too loud?"

Another student expressed an inconvenience with policies.

According to the Guide Post, students can be charged $10 for housing their bicycles in their residence hall rooms. Ryan Miller, a freshman mechanical engineering major, recently was told he was not allowed to store his bike in his room and that he had to make use of the racks outside.

Miller said his bike is worth more than $1,000, and that storing it inside his bedroom assures him it will be safe from both DeKalb's weather and crime.

"Other schools have bike lockers you can rent," Miller said. "Those are better, not the cheap racks they have here."

Despite the fact that the Guide Post lists over 30 different individual things to be charged for, Musselman says the number of people charged for them is relatively scant.

"All other charges, for both individuals and floors, are fairly uncommon," Musselman said. "But we do see other charges on occasion."

http://www.niu.edu/Housing/publications/Guide_Post/standards.shtml (NIU Guide Post - fines)

Derek Walker is a Web Reporter for the Northern Star.