I'm getting kicked off campus for having a letter opener.

R

Richter

Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
132
That's right, a letter opener. Yesterday there was "health inspections" in my dorm, and while I was at class, RA's (dorm officials) confiscated a wooden letter opener that was on my desk and declared it a "KNIFE" and charged me with the offense of "POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON".

The object in question is a 0.5" wide by 4" long, wooden blade. It is sheathed with very nice designs including 2 stones - 1 on the center of the sheath and the other on the handle. It was a gift from my father many years ago after he came back from a business trip to Brazil. I liked how it looked, and brought it to my dorm for the aesthetic value. Never would I have imagined that anyone would consider this a "DANGEROUS WEAPON", because I assumed anyone who saw it wouldn't be a complete retard and realize it is a letter opener. But apparently the RA who confiscated it felt otherwise.

When I came back to my room after class yesterday, there was a piece of paper on the floor stating that they had found a weapon and that my room will be re-inspected in 7 days. There was no other information. At approximately 11pm last night, an anonymous caller called my dorm phone and hung up after I answered. 30 minutes later, cops, more RA's, and the RD (resident director) from my building knocked on my door, to tell me a dangerous weapon was found in my room and that I have been suspended from living on campus - and if I do not leave immediately that the police here will arrest me. Mind you it was raining at the time, and I have nowhere to go, not even a car to sleep in.

After explaining my case that it was a fucking letter opener and not a god damned weapon, the police convinced my RD to let me stay the night so I didn't have to leave in the rain. Note that the police, RD, and other RA's did not even see the weapon in question. When I asked to show them what this was all about, they told me I have to go through paperwork first and follow the guidelines of their bureaucracy. The police then stated to me that I should get this straightened out so they won't have to return the following night and escort me off campus.

In the morning, I have to make a bunch of meetings and explain my case to even more people or I will be kicked off campus. So what do you guys think? Should I be kicked off campus for having a letter opener? Or do you think this is as equally ridiculous as I do?

Also note that in my apartment on campus is a kitchen, with several cooking knives that are about 1,000 times more dangerous than my wooden letter opener, which I'm sure I'm completely allowed to have. I'll post pics of the object in question if I can manage to get it back from them. I'll try to update this later.
 
That is completely absurd! Its a wooden letter opener and is as dangerous as a ball point pen. You definitely have a case and tell them what it was and its purpose. Tell them the sentimental value and that you use it to open your mail. I cannot see how they can kick you off of campus for something like this and not understand why you had a simple letter opener in your room. When these lefties turn a letter opener into a "Covert deanimating letter opener" is rediculous and further proves the ppoint that our country is quickly looses its sense of judgement. Best of luck to you.

Oh and just curious...where do you go to school?
 
Just explain to them that's it's a goddamned letter opener and that they're a bunch of retards (in more polite terms) and request that they return it to you.

If they don't, let them know that a court will make them return it to you because (again) it's a goddamned letter opener and they're a bunch of retards.

My guess is that the police left because no crime whatsoever had been committed.
 
A wooden blade eh? In the defense of the administration I must note that all the vampires on campus can feel much safer now, good thing you were wise enough to conceal your box of toothpicks and your stash of sharpened no.2 pencils. Seriously though, good luck to you with the whole ordeal. I wouldn't sweat too much though especially since the real authorities have yet to see the "weapon" for themselves as it's not like some sheeple RA's on a power trip have all that much power. Isn't bureacracy wonderful though.

-Lindey
 
Where are you living?

In my country it is absoluotly unthinkable that someone comes in your room while you are not there. Exept you are in jail, but even there searchs are done in present.

I am used to the circumstance that everybody has the right to defend himself against offenses. Every school director i have known during all my time of school tried to be fair and objektive and gave a chance for defense.

As a personal thing i would say that one is a f****** bas*** and that kind is growing even here.

But still i wonder where you live.
 
That seriously sucks. Where do you go to school, I want to know to never transfer there!

Oh yeah, and make sure, whatever else you do, to be polite. Law enforcement hates rude people, and a bureacracy will squash them. It's utterly ridiculous that this happened, but if you want to stay on campus you're going to have to be patient with a whole crap load of stupid people saying stupid things.
 
get a lawer and sue them.

Edited for profanity.
Well that really is not the type of language that is appreciated in our discussion forums. Please take this warning to heart. If you would not use that language in front of your family, it does not belong here.
 
Thats the dumbest damn thing I've ever heard. Sounds like your ra is on a power trip, I've seen things like this happen you give somebody alittle power and they think they are god. My suggestion is to go jump threw the hoops fill out the paperwork show them that it's a wooden letter opener and suggest that they have the ra take a psych exam and be medicated or at least have his eyes checked..
 
It's time to bring a big law suit against the school for permitting any knives in kitchens or cafeteria !! Are these searches common or did someone turn you in ??
 
The only thing more unbelievable than how idiotic and absurd this situation is how real the possibility is that you might not win out in the end.

What's next? Plastic silverware? Curling irons?

If you win (and god I hope you do), I'd demand some recourse against the RA that screwed you over. Somebody like that shouldn't be in a position of authority, and shouldn't be defaming people with false accusations.
 
We really need the name of the school. The chances are slim to none that it is my university, but if it were, as a contributing alumnus I would be letting them know what I thought and advising them that my contributions would no longer be coming.
 
Richter,

You need to contact a lawyer and go on the defense, sad to say but I'm not surprised by this.

I remember a time ( late 60's) when It was OK for me to wear my Boy Scout knife in school out in the open, on my belt. A few months ago I gave my daughter a SAK, she told me to hold it for her because she's afraid she might forget it's in her pocket book and take it to school.
 
Get a lawyer. You need to ensure that the charges are dropped, and that this does not go on any kind of record. Otherwise, this could have a serious impact on your life.

Universities are very afraid opf lawsuits. Even though they employ, on the average, more lawyers than law professors, they don't want bad publicity. You should insist on the record being cleared, and full reinstatement in a different dorm to avoid the idiot RA. And of course, if the idiot RA loses his/her job, all the better.

With all respect to the previous poster, you need to go on the OFFENSE, not the defense.
 
A wooden letter opener? WTF is wrong with people???? This is way out of hand!! I am so sorry that this happened. Get yourself a good lawyer!!
 
Richter -

If you don't have the money I would consult the ACLU for legal assistance and go for big bucks in a lawsuit for defamation, illegal search and entry, and violation of all my constitutional rights.

I would write letters to the local newspapers. I would write letters to the big contributors in the school's alumni paper (the ones giving the big bucks).

I wouldn't go down meekly for something this inane.

At this point what have you got to lose. You were hung without a trial it seems. I have an aluminum ruler used to program reports that could cause more damage that what you had if I ever chose to whack someone with it.

Lastly, I respectfully suggest that you work to control your temper and use of profanity. It doesn't work, trust me on this. Be a bit more subtle in your aggression. Cut the adversary so they don't even feel it or know its happening until they see all the blood and wonder where it came from.

If you can appear "calm, cool, and collected" while trying to restrain yourself from grabbing someone by the throat and choking the living --- of of them, it will work to your advantage in all your social relationships.

I'm very curious to hear "the rest of the story".
 
shaldag said:
Get a lawyer. You need to ensure that the charges are dropped, and that this does not go on any kind of record. Otherwise, this could have a serious impact on your life.

Universities are very afraid opf lawsuits. Even though they employ, on the average, more lawyers than law professors, they don't want bad publicity. You should insist on the record being cleared, and full reinstatement in a different dorm to avoid the idiot RA. And of course, if the idiot RA loses his/her job, all the better.

With all respect to the previous poster, you need to go on the OFFENSE, not the defense.
Click to expand...

Very, very true.

Something like this can't be permitted to pass. It's time to take shaldag's advise and get offensive as hell with about 50 pounds of legal paper to hang on the Dean's neck!

And they call them "Institutes Of Higher Learning"????
 
You've been the victim of bureauRat persecution. These animals hide behind their paperwork, formalities, and polite facade in order to make the life of honest law abiding citizens difficult. Being unfamiliar with your case I can't be 100% sure on this but as my experience dictates the prick RA who set this whole chain in motion is either some fat 20-something female with no prospect of mating with a human male on her horizons, or is some emasculated, scrawny, "I stopped breast-feeding at 15" metro-homo-uber-sexual fucktard male whose only romantic options are the above mentioned she-rhino.

If you don't fight back and make an example out of whoever did this to you, you're setting yourself up for life. These creatures saturate, government jobs, academia and the non-profit sectors. These are the same excuses for humans that will gasp when they see your Spyderco Meerkat in the office and ask if you're going to use that to kill someone. They are expecting you to give them a violent, angry response in this situation. Don't do it. Fight them back on their terms. Document EVERYTHING. All conversations, letters sent to you, and important statements made should be accounted for. When presenting your case against them in front of higher-ups act completely demure and totally play the victim card. By taking on the role of the helpless victim and not the agressor you defang the bureauRat.

Contact your campus paper and tell them your story. BureauRats are extremely image concious and so the public light will weaken their fight. Once done with the campus paper, go to the local public one as well.

One last thing, before you start your fight make sure to get that letter opener back. Without it, its your word against theirs at the moment and they will try and hold back on it knowing its strong evidence for you. Good luck.
 
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