Every college or university in this country has something which sets it apart from all others.

Some have great tradition in sports while others offer beautiful, picturesque campuses.

UD has something which surpasses all of these: community.

This is something that rests at the very core of what it means to be a Dayton Flyer and perhaps the single largest factor in why students choose to attend school here.

Yet, the reaction from the administration to events such as Lowesfest does not seem to uphold these ideals.

Any healthy relationship depends upon constructive communication. The communication between the administration and the students of UD leading up to Lowesfest was anything but constructive; in fact, it was destructive. There were a number of arrests, a majority by non-UD students, that could have been prevented by simply organizing the event better.

Why not block off the street, check student I.D.'s at the entrances of Lowes and have a set time for the event to end?

This is not a difficult premise.

The rules and programs need to be established with input from both students and administrators instead of the administration dictating regulations in threatening emails a short time before the event.

Events like Lowesfest should never become extinct like the celebrations of Homecoming and St. Patrick's Day. While these events have in some instances resulted in troublesome situations, the actions of a few should not impact the college experience of many.

The fact that there is no Homecoming at UD is the direct result of past failures in communications and deliberation between students and administrators. This no longer needs to be the case. Let us work together'as administrators and students'so that next year we might all agree on an event that is a pillar of community here at UD.