People are usually locked up in jail for theft, and the unnamed TCU student who admitted to stealing 14 items from the University Recreation Center over the past six months should be no exception.Instead, because, TCU Police say, students who reported missing items declined to press charges on the thief, he or she will be dumped onto Campus Life’s doorstep and out of TCU Police’s hands.

But if the victims of the Rec Center thief’s crimes do not want to press charges, the university should. A university campus is still a part of society, and in society, there are punishments for crimes.

Campus Life, the same institution that brought us International Week, is hardly capable of punishing a thief. It deals mostly with campus activities, not people who broke the law.

Sure, Campus Life is equipped to deal with some serious issues, such as the Victims Advocate Program, but someone who stole $2,020 worth of items is hardly a victim.

According to a story printed in the Skiff yesterday, the student’s punishment will be mandated by the Official Student Handbook, which does not even have a course of action for thievery.

And because the name of the student, according to the police, cannot be released under federal and university privacy laws, this student could essentially walk out of the Campus Life doors scotch-free.

If this situation

So why is TCU needlessly protecting this student? This student broke the law. He or she should be punished for it like any other member of society.

Press charges on the Rec Center thief so proper jurisdiction can happen.

Features editor Amber Parcher for the editorial board.