By Garrick Hoffman, garrickchoffman@smccme.edu

Earlier this month a vehicle struck a dog belonging to an SMCC student. The driver of the vehicle continued to drive away as the dog died before her. The incident happened right next to campus, across from 158 Pickett Street Cafe.

An act so despicable must not go unnoticed. Surely the accident was simply that – an accident. But the accident – and the subsequent drive off – can be attributed to something else: apathy and selfishness. Here, a student is befallen by tragedy and the life of a treasured animal is lost. With no accountability following, with no apprehension made evident, what are we supposed to make of this?

Does the perpetrator harbor any sort of remorse?
Can we imagine him or her wallowing in guilt and shame?
Has he or she ever experienced the loss of a family member, friend, or pet like their victim has?
Was it fear that drove them away?
Regardless of any of the above, there is no excuse.

This column isn’t intended to demonize the perpetrator. It’s to herald an admonition: be safe out there, folks, and drive wisely and attentively. We’re all trying to get from A to B – often in a hastily fashion – but this lack of prudence is a testament to the chief importance of one’s regard for their surroundings as they drive, especially in such an area.

When you run a stop sign or speed in these environments, you’re also running an enormous risk of setting off a string of events that demands responsibility, and ultimately, punishment. No one should be subjected to such grief as a product of another’s indifference, cowardice, or poor driving proclivities. On the flip side, you wouldn’t want to be the culprit of such an episode. The adversity that follows doesn’t coalesce into anything pleasant.