Recently there's been a good deal of shenanigans going on over at the Bombeck Center – and they're not coming from those little tykes out on the playground.

Students from UD have been accused of flicking cigarette butts and beer bottles over the building's fence, stealing a $450 sign, and — probably the most appalling — chanting, "F–ck the toddlers" while the little Flyers are playing around outside.

Our preschool playground experiences involved swinging on tires while listening to teachers sing songs. The recent, tasteless mischief at the Center has the kids there now playing with broken glass while getting cursed at.

Seriously, people? We're not buying the idea that UD students don't understand this is a preschool. The Bombeck Center is as much a part of this university as the RecPlex or KU are. You wouldn't like it if there were cigarette butts on the treadmills at the Rec and probably wouldn't find it very amusing hearing people chant obscenities at you while you're walking around campus. So why should we do it to innocent kids?

See, UD has this reputation for its good community. While this Bombeck situation hasn't necessarily evolved into an ongoing issue (yet), the small minority of the students that are making it an issue are making the whole student body look bad in the process.

In our front page article, we quote the Center's director, Diana Smith, and UD professor Dr. Leslie Picca. Despite the tomfoolery that has occurred, each of them still sees UD students in a positive light and have hope that students will shape up. Dr. Picca even has children who attend the Bombeck Center, and can still find it in her heart to forgive the misdeeds against the children.

So let's learn from this, and take advantage of the second chance that was generously given.