If you’re a member of the Butler University community, you probably already know that BUPD (Butler University Police Department) Assistant Police Chief Andrew Ryan, was arrested on September 8th for a DUI after his car collided with another. After this incident, he was placed on leave and had his license temporarily suspended.
If you were paying attention to your social media accounts, you know that earlier this week, he returned to work for BUPD after blowing a .27 BAC (Blood Alcohol Level), which is three times over the legal limit. This information comes from the Indystar's article.
Students took to social media on both occasions, sharing the various articles on Facebook, Tweeting about their irony with the situation, and commenting about how outraged they were with the way the university is dealing with the situation.
The student body is outraged because BUPD, who is responsible for issuing drinking tickets to students on a weekly basis and riding their Segway’s around the knoll to shut down senior house parties, is now at the command of a man who acted irresponsibly with alcohol and chose to drive drunk and put lives at risk. The worst part… it seems that the university is letting them.
This article is in no way intended to bash BUPD nor Assistant Police Chief Ryan, but rather to bring awareness to the subject of the double standard that is at play within the Butler Community.
Students who get caught drinking or smoking in the dorms get written up, put on academic probation, and occasionally get asked to leave. This is understandable, as they are breaking the rules. I also understand that someone who gets a DUI shouldn’t necessarily lose their job, but what about when his or her job is to enforce the law?
If you are in a position where you are supposed to enforce the law, you should be expected to follow them as well. The fact that he has been allowed to return to a position, one in which he is expected to make sure this campus is abiding by laws similar to the one he broke, is what is bothering the students on this campus, as it should be.
On a college campus, there will be parties, drinking, and yes, even underage drinking, and it is up to campus police to monitor that and do their best to ensure the safety of the students. But, when one of the men who is in charge has acted recklessly with alcohol and it seems to be overlooked, like he got nothing more than time-off and a slap on the wrist, the student body is thinking that he is not being held to the same standards that they are.
This is why Butler students are upset. Not with BUPD but with the university for allowing this to take place. And demonstrating absolutley no consequences for his actions.
