Groups of fratboys aren't generally known for being easy marks, but the University of Washington is disproving the general wisdom. A rash of violence has been afflicting the off-campus greek houses recently, with attacks including beatings severe enough to hospitalize some brothers, culminating recently in a mugging in which two fraternity brothers were robbed at gunpoint and pistol-whipped this past weekend. The increased sense of threat is changing social habits, says Beta Theta Pi brother Kyle Thomas, who was interviewed for the story: "It's become a thing where unless you're in a larger group at night most people don't feel safe going out. Definitely not on your own. Not anymore."
Thomas feels the police do not maintain a strong enough presence in the neighborhood, and should be doing more to protect residents. Under an agreement with the municipal authorities, the frat row falls under the jurisdiction of The UW campus police, whose police chief Ralph Robinson was quick to say he was "not blaming the victims" before doing just that, chiding greeks for "being out late at night, being by yourself, being in isolated areas, being in areas that are extremely dark where there's no escape route. Those are the types of things where a person could appear as an easy target." Because that means it's okay to mug them. Maybe they shouldn't wear suggestive clothing either.
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