It was 20 degrees outside when I was walking to my car in the Blue Zone Sunday morning. On the way, I noticed a girl pulled over to the side, apparently trying to get a thick layer of ice off of her windshield.
Unfortunately, her wipers were ineffective. I didn't have anything on me to help her, so I smiled at her and made a gesture of support. She smiled back. Five minutes later I was in my car, driving back towards the Blue Zone gate, and there she was, standing out in the cold and still struggling.
Right then a Duke parking officer driving towards her went right past her without so much as even slowing down.
I lent her my scraper to help her get on her way, but I was really incensed, as she was standing outside in the cold with her caution lights on.
I don't think any Duke students are surprised that even in subfreezing weather, DUPS Officers will get out of the warmth of their cars to issue parking fines. I saw a few of those that morning too.
But serving people in distress? I guess since there's no revenue involved, it's not important to them.
Kaiwen Lin
Trinity '04
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