Rosie and Phillip Martinez were kicked off TR East Campus Jan. 22 for attempting to tie the knot on school property.
The couple wanted to seal the deal by the river where they had spent quality time together over the years. Before the ceremony could even begin, a campus police officer stepped in with the ultimate wedding crash.
The officer interrupted the nuptials and moved the group off campus to a nearby sidewalk. The couple took the relocation in stride, but the question has to be asked: Why was their getting married, with no one around, such a big deal that an officer would intervene?
The officer was surely just doing his job, but where was the human element in not letting the ceremony proceed?
TR Campus President Tahita Fulkerson said the district is revising its public access policy but also said the school wants to “let people in if it’s safe.”
What about this was unsafe? Were they worried that the wedding was a front and the actual goal of the wedding party was a school supplies heist?
While the situation is aggravating, credit should be given to Ms. Martinez for not launching into a Bridezilla-esque tirade when many other brides-to-be would have. Mr. Martinez even said the incident would be something to laugh about in the future.
While that will one day make for an amusing story for them, it shouldn’t have been that way. It should have been the perfect day to symbolize their union.
Vice chancellor of communications and external affairs Reginald Gates admitted the school mishandled the situation and apologized to Ms. Martinez, which is admirable.
Still, it shows a flaw in the system when citizens who pay taxes for a $200 million facility weren’t allowed to take the plunge on the school’s property.
The school needs to consider this situation carefully as it works to amend its public access policy. This should never have been allowed to occur. The incident portrays an uptight approach by the college that should go by the wayside.
The school has conformed to this rigid approach in such a way that no room was left for a judgment call by the officer on the scene. College students are usually a creative, unique bunch, and this was a creative, unique location for a wedding ceremony.
What should have been applauded for its originality was essentially shut down by The Man.
The important thing in all of this is that the happy couple eventually did what they set out to do.
But what might be the most important, memorable day in the newlywed’s lives could have been ruined because of a hasty decision.
