A police officer on his morning rounds at the University of Arkansas espied the door to the local Lambda Chi Alpha ajar, and sallied into the deserted house to investigate "the possibility of a theft." The investigation uncovered no burglars, but did bring to light a construction sign evidently pilfered from the university that had "been in that bathroom for as long as he could remember," according to Lambda president Phillip Long. The police have now seized the burgled clapboard, though details are sketchy on whether any charges will be filed. (For the sake of reason and proportionality everywhere, your correspondent certainly hopes not.)
The more enlightening section of the Arkansas Traveller's article detailing this scandalous tale of purloined placard and early-morning raids discusses the laws permitting police officer and university security to enter into and search fraternity houses. As a rule, private bedrooms enjoy more security from unannounced searches than common rooms and hallways. Unstated is whether a bathroom qualified as a "private" or "public" room. Perhaps a bit of both. In any case, police can only conduct searches validly with a warrant—or under one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement, which number in the myriads.
University security is a bit more tricky. If they are purely private actors, they can operate outside constitutional strictures on law enforcement agents; but many campus forces are deputized by local sheriffs, and therefore acting as agents of the government. And so it rapidly descends into the province of attorneys. Best lay advice for those harboring an item best not brought to light in their frathouse: get rid of it—or get a lawyer.
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