With the cold come the cats.
Perhaps they wander elsewhere during the warmer months, but come fall and winter they seem to congregate around campus.
I've seen them around the Hub, the Library, Mason and any number of first-year residence halls.
Student reactions always seem mixed — some will say they hate cats, while others will go so far as to house them in their dorm rooms.
I, for one, am pro-cat. I think the cats add a certain flavor to the campus.
As anyone who has stayed on campus during summer, Fall Break or Thanksgiving Break can tell, things feel very dead. Everything's closed or on reduced hours, and the majority of the campus has left. There are squirrels, of course, but they're everywhere. Cats are uncommon enough that they get noticed, but not common enough to be ignored. Plus, how can you really interact with squirrels? Have you ever tried to pet a squirrel? I certainly haven't. I saw a squirrel fight once and, since then, I pretty much avoid them. They can be surprisingly violent animals.
You can try and pet a cat, though. While I recognize that not all DePauw students are cat people, the option is still there. Many cats are receptive to it, even though they may just be trying to get food. You can even play with them — provided you're careful and wash your hands after.
Even Director of Public Safety Angie Nally was quoted earlier this year saying she didn't know of any safety problems concerning the cats. They may be noisy sometimes, with the meowing and yowling and whatnot. But as far as noises you'd hear outside at night on this campus, I think cats are probably pretty low on the annoyance scale. They can even be beneficial.
Ever heard of therapy cats? They've been used in hospitals and nursing homes to keep residents company. While DePauw is neither a hospital nor a nursing home, I'm inclined to believe the effects can still be the same. If you're a cat person, you likely already understand the benefits of having a cat.
Some will argue that you shouldn't interact with the campus cats. Otherwise, they'll get accustomed to being around. However, this isn't an all-or-nothing game. Just because you play with a cat outside of College Street Hall doesn't mean you have to leave a bowl of food outside or keep them in your rooms. That may be too far.
After all, getting used to being fed outside of dorms may not be good for the cats. What happens when breaks come along and the cats don't get fed? Hopefully, they find food elsewhere. The same goes for housing them, too.
It's against policy, it may affect your cat-allergic neighbors, and you can't keep it up unless you plan on taking the cat home for break. Besides, some of them may already have homes in Greencastle.
I think the best plan of action is to treat the cats well and enjoy their company, but not to get too attached. With the closing of the local humane society, we may have more cats around campus than ever.
—Holley-Kline is a senior from Anchorage, Alaska, majoring in Spanish and anthropology.
opinion@thedepauw.com