Barbed Wire & Central PlanningAlexander S. Peak 10 June 2009 Those of us on campus this summer will undoubtedly notice the escalated reconstruction efforts. Fencing has been erected all across the centre of camous. The keen observer may also notice something else: barbed wire. What better way to inadvertantly symbolise the latent authoritarianism inherent in public education? The wire is not a feature on all the fencing erected, but one will notice it prominently featured between Lecture Hall and Hawkins Hall. The reconstruction itself is part of the campus’s ten-year plan, a plan that involves doing away with the seclusion-from-taffic students currently enjoy around “the beach.” Should we really expect anything more rational from the central planners? A point I must stress is that the state does not legitimately own our school—we do. The state cannot legitimately own anything, in fact, because it gains all of its assets through expropriation. By virtue of the Lockean homesteading principle, those who actually use an otherwise-unowned resource are its true owners—in this case, the students, faculty, and staff. At least the barbed wire is impotent. Any one of us could dislodge the fencing if need be. Thus the full absurdity of the barbed wire is clear. But this does still beg the question: Who would the barbed wire be intended to intimidate? That’s right: the legitimate owners of this campus. Alex Peak served as President of the College Libertarians of Towson, 2004–2006; Membership Chair, 2006–2007; and Vice President, 2007–2008. |