Salutary neglect at Davidson

College administrations in the US are constantly searching for policy solutions that will create both harmony and safety on campuses. Here at Davidson, one answer is salutary neglect. Some examples of common salutary neglect include:

Keep the door shut and don't play your music too loudly; no one will have any reason to question the legality of what you are doing behind your closed door. Walk calmly, don't make a scene, carry your red cup confidently; no one will have any reason to question the legality of what you are drinking. Tell us your stolen street signs are down off your wall and that where ever they are, they are in good standing with the law; no one will have any reason to ask further questions.

This policy of salutary neglect is the product of a number of considerations of what creates the most open and safe environment for the Davidson community. Generally speaking, this policy seems to work well enough. What I find surprising is how often people go out of their way to push the envelope regarding the salutary neglect that so many of us benefit from. People can throw a bike off of a balcony or cut a tree down with a handsaw on a whim, and then wake up the next morning and complain about how the administration is over-regulating their behavior. Perhaps by showing a greater appreciation for the freedoms we are afforded, we can avoid scrutiny from the administration that may lead to the retraction of these freedoms.