Students still have some worries after robbery

BELLEVILLE – Loyalist College’s new residence complex is quiet just a few days after a robbery occurred.

By Riley Maracle

BELLEVILLE­ – Five days after an invasion and robbery at a Loyalist residence, campus life goes on as usual. But for some the incident hit a little close to home.

Student Joe Slack lives next door to the C4 townhouse in which the invasion occurred last Thursday night. As the investigation continues, so does the confusion for Slack.

“I am a little freaked out that something like that would happen to somewhere like this,” he said.

Slack said he usually spends Thursday pub nights and weekend nights around the area in which the incident took place. The number of people who visit C4 has quieted down quite a bit since the robbery happened, he said.

“In the last couple days it toned down so much over at new res. There not a lot of partying going on.”

Slack added that his comfort level has changed a little bit.

“I think it might have been a freak thing that might not happen again, but there’s always that thought in the back of your mind like, ‘What if it’s my house next time?’ But … I am not fearing for my life when I walk across campus.”

Aaron Vilaca, who lives in the college’s old residence, said that the incident doesn’t concern him and what he does in his spare time that much.

“I wasn’t there so it doesn’t really change my opinion on how I am going to go about it.”

However, Vilaca also said that it might be better if there were more security around the campus.

“They only have two or three security guards on at a time and if they are walking around they are doing their rounds and they can’t be everywhere at once,” he said. “They aren’t properly equipped for a situation like that.”

Fellow student John Wilson said he was afraid when he first heard the news.

“When I saw all the cop cars there and everything it was pretty concerning and I was worried – like, ‘What’s going on?’ ”

Wilson added that the incident still makes him a little uncomfortable.

“I’d have to say with it hitting so close to home, living in (the) McFarlane (residence), obviously it’s very concerning.”