Smart Car tipping to pose new threat on campus

The discovery of five overturned Smart Cars in San Francisco on April 7 could inspire vandals at Ole Miss.

This 'urban cow-tipping' trend takes six to eight people to execute. 

The story broke the news last Tuesday: vandals had spent the whole night overturning Smart Cars in two different San Francisco neighborhoods. It seems to be one of the most laughable acts of destruction this year, although it carries some real-life consequences. If caught, the vandals will be charged with felony vandalism and possible fines, and have to serve time in prison. 

At Ole Miss on Tuesday April 8, the students who had heard about the story were laughing and joking about what would happen if a similar act were to take place on our campus. The lack of parking here is already an issue, and a way of retaliating, and freeing up spots, is flipping over Smart Cars, and their counterparts, the Toyota Prius.

"I think it could happen," said freshman Amanda Fabrizio. "I'd laugh. Get enough drunk guys together, and that would be possible."

Some owners of small eco-friendly cars are concerned. For most of us, this seems like a funny prank, but for them, it means paying thousands of dollars in insurance money, and in the case of the car pictured, (the side on the ground is flattened) it means buying another car. Looking at the prices of Smart Cars, one can easily see the seriousness of the offense.

 "If my Prius was tipped, just because someone thought it would be funny, I'd be furious, and do everything I could to find who did it," Grace Kollar, junior, said.

Grace Kollar pictured with her Toyota Prius.

Not everyone sees this act of vandalism as a serious offense, however. John Barton, who drives a red, lifted Ford F-150, thinks it would be hilarious, and wants to try the prank if he can.

"That would be so funny. People shouldn't drive sissy cars!" Barton said. He then proceeded to solicit some fraternity brothers to attempt the act themselves. Needless to say, none of them found it funny enough to help him tip a car.

At a place like Ole Miss, there is definitely a chance of a "car tipping" event happening on campus. The social climate practically begs for it. People here come from all walks of life, and the conflict created by this makes an act of vandalism, even if done for fun and not out of hatred, all the more likely to occur.

Sources:
 Photo: Fernandez, Lisa , Bryan Carmody, and Christie Smith. "Car Tipping - Not Cow Tipping - in San Francisco." NBC Bay Area. N.p., 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. <http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Suspects-Flip-Over-Smart-Cars-in-San-Francisco-254177981.html>.

Amanda Fabrizio:
aafabrizi@go.olemiss.edu

Grace Kollar:
gakollar@go.olemiss.edu

John Barton:
jjbarton@go.olemiss.edu