On Saturday, this newspaper reported that the University of the West Indies, Mona's administration is putting parties on campus on hold in light of the current security climate.

Chairman of Irvine Hall, Leighton Campbell, said "because of the upsurge in kidnappings and rapes around the Mona area, the administration does not feel comfortable allowing outsiders on to the campus".

The perception, then, is that 'outsiders' will have increased opportunities to harm students at these parties. Of course, older former students will remember when there was no wall between the campus and August Town, when there were no security posts at points of entry and exit and events like carnival were open to all who would come.

There was a time when tertiary education was seen as being accessible by only the very few and UWI was, by providing that level of education, naturally an elitist institution. We have no doubt that the many fête and parties kept primarily at the Students Union did a lot to change that perception.

Unfortunately this no-party move, which we understand completely, will do a lot to draw the mental line between UWI and Jamaica, a situation which we hope does not last.

Unfortunately, too, students at UWI and other top-level institutions have long ceased to be seen as 'special' and hence inherently protected from criminal activity. It points to a devaluation of education.