Editorial: Whit stolen computer

In the last two to three weeks, The Whit editorial staff was a victim of theft and it comes solely at the cost of the student body.

Through a supplemental from Student Government Association and approved by the Senate, The Whit received $4,000 for four brand new computers for the student newspaper. These computers would allow for faster and improved quality of the product on the newsstands.

Each computer cost $899 – with a total cost of $3,596 – and were installed with the new Adobe Creative Suite for better layout and photo editing programs, as well as a faster working environment.

The computers were delivered the week prior to spring break to the Publications Suite and were going to be set up in the office on our return. When we returned, only three computers were there.

A police report was filed with public safety and an investigation into the theft is being conducted. While disappearing computers are not a common occurrence on Rowan’s campus, this is not the first time Rowan has suffered.

Since September of 2009, seven computers have been reported as stolen from Rowan’s campus. Only two of those computers were from residence halls; the other were stolen from Hawthorn Hall, Wilson Hall, Bunce Hall and the Campbell Library.

The Publications Suite is more of a second home to most of the staff, as the editorial staff spends approximately 10 hours a week in the suite on the top floor of the Student Center. The theft of a computer from a locked room in the suite is not only a violation of our privacy, but has caused an unnecessary level of mistrust for everyone entering the suite. It makes working to produce a paper harder, especially for the staff members left on the old, barely-functioning computers that find pinwheeling a daily occurrence.

While the Whit editorial staff was upset and distraught by the theft, the effects are felt by the student body as well. A portion of your tuition goes to funding SGA and the clubs on campus, part of which is used for any supplemental for clubs and organizations. The computers were bought with student money allocated from SGA to The Whit.

When one of the four computers disappeared from the Publications Suite, the student body was robbed. Your money was wasted because someone decided to steal from students. While public safety is still currently investigating the incident, the fact of the matter is that The Whit staff and the students are the victims.

Someone took advantage of knowing where expensive computers were as well as a lack of students around over spring break. It was cold-hearted because now a student organization must continue to deal with inadequate equipment.

If you or anyone you know has any information about the missing computer, please call public safety at 856-256-4922.