As any parent would be, I was immediately concerned after reading MSU's unenviable ranking as No. 1 in university weapons arrests ("'U' weapon violations rank No. 1" SN 5/15.) However, I immediately wanted to know if the ranking was determined by arrests per 1,000 students or, as it turned out to be, just by total numbers. Had the ranking been calculated by arrests per 1,000 students, MSU likely would not have been first in the rankings.

MSU is essentially a small city, a community of its own. When attending the MSU parent orientation in 2001, I distinctly recall comparing MSU's student and faculty- and staff-member population to our city, Rapid City, S.D., population just fewer than 60,000. Any city of that size is going to have problems. This is a given.

How the community handles the problems is what is important. The MSU police department deserves praise and recognition for actively and openly dealing with any weapons issues, as well as for honestly reporting the figures and not "softening" them for any public relations reasons.

Although we would all like a safe bubble to live, learn and work in, no place is 100 percent safe. Students, parents, faculty and staff members who recognize the extensive MSU campus as a living, breathing city will still find it safe.

As a citizen of any city or community, we must be aware of our surroundings and take responsibility for ensuring not only our safety but also the safety of others.

Peg Seljeskog
Rapid City, S.D resident