Best-Worst Article I’ve Read in YEARS!

The article below has to be the best written article I’ve read in years…

By Brittany Shammas
The State News
Published: July 19, 2009

MSU police are following a flow of information regarding two leads in a series of thefts from feminine-hygiene product dispensers, MSU police Detective Steven Beard said.

Police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said one of the suspects came to the attention of police when thefts stopped during his incarceration for another offense.

Beard declined to comment further, citing a need to form a more solid case.

The break-ins and thefts, which first occurred between June 1 and June 12, launched a police investigation when a period of increased cases were reported across campus. Women’s restrooms in campus buildings, including the Chemistry Building, Human Ecology Building and the Computer Center, were targeted.

The incidents became more spotty after June 12, discontinuing altogether until another cycle of thefts began in July. On July 9, a theft was reported in the Music Building. Between July 13 and July 14, feminine-hygiene dispensers on the first, second and fourth floors of the Chemistry Building were broken into.

At least nine incidents have been reported to date, resulting in the theft of an unknown sum of money from women’s restrooms in at least seven campus buildings. The dispensers, which cost about $316 per unit, might have to be replaced because of the damage they sustained during the break-ins, McGlothian-Taylor said.

First year medical student Iman Elgammal said she is happy to hear police are on the case and the person responsible needs to be stopped because it is unfair for the rest of the university to suffer for one person’s immature actions.

“What’s going to happen is, if you’re in a jam and you do need a tampon, you’re not going to be able to get one,” she said. “If they keep vandalizing the machines, the university is not going to keep tampons in the machines.”

Police are waiting for more information to come in regarding the case, Beard said. The breaking and entering of the machines and the larceny from the building are misdemeanor and felony charges, he said.

Police hope to disrupt the cycle in the near future.

Published on Sunday, July 19, 2009