Illustration by Cody Angell

Last Thursday, Madelyne Gorman Toogood was caught on tape in the worst way. Toogood, 25, was seen beating her 4-year-old daughter, Martha, by a video surveillance camera in a northern Indiana department store parking lot. Following the incident, Toogood turned herself in to police and was promptly charged with battery to a child, a felony that could put the mother behind bars for up to three years. Toogood, also a mother of two boys, pleaded not guilty, claiming the taped incident was isolated. "Martha didn't deserve what she got. I just lost my temper," she said. If convicted, should Toogood receive a lighter sentence if this is found to be her first incident of abuse? And does this strengthen the argument for more cameras ÷ and less privacy ÷ in public areas?

Leave it to the law and turn off your television

Caitlin Hall

What should happen to the woman allegedly caught beating her daughter on tape? Exactly the same thing that happens to everyone else accused of committing a crime: She should be tried and, if convicted, punished according to the law. There's not really an issue to debate there ÷ it's a simple matter of legality.

Here's a better question: Why is this the Issue of the Week? I don't mean that as a slight to my editor; I think all the attention conferred upon the case warrants the choice. But beyond that, and more to the point, why has there been so much attention paid to it nationally?

The answer: videotape. This kind of incident may be commonplace, but we only take note and briefly care if we can watch it over and over, frame-by-frame. Our culture is one that covertly worships chaos. We want to be scandalized, and mainstream media feeds that desire by waiting to address an issue until a disclaimer-worthy clip surfaces.

I'm not qualified to comment on what happened or what the consequences should be, but none of us are. That's why we have the legal system.

Why don't we turn off our televisions for once and disband this ad-hoc jury of public opinion?

Caitlin Hall is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and philosophy. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Jessica Lee

Mommy needs counseling, not prison bars

What surveillance cameras caught Mommy Toogood doing to her daughter is a horrendous act of domestic violence exhibited in a public arena. The cameras had been placed in their location to document crimes in connection with the shopping mall. Due to the success of tracking down criminals and using them in trial situations, it is no surprise that private business owners choose to place surveillance cameras within their property for security purposes.

But I do not want a penny of my tax dollars to put her up in prison. What this woman needs is not to rot away in jail for the next three years while her three kids grow up transferring from foster home to foster home. Rather, the money could be better invested in a successful domestic counseling program and Child Protective Services.

Hurting kids is a mental illness that probably carried over from Toogood's own childhood. Being locked in a cell will not cure her, nor will having a "jailbird mom" aid in successfully raising these three kids.

Too often we use prison as a Band-Aid for severe social wounds in our country ÷ problems that our elected leaders are not brave and bold enough to face.

Jessica Lee is an environmental science senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Jason Winsky

The tape tells a terrible tale

Surveillance cameras from stores to street corners are bringing the ugly underbelly of our society to primetime with sharp contrast and color.

A woman with the last name of Toogood (it's too easy, I won't even say it) was caught on tape in the act of severely beating her child in a car in front of a store. The woman has since admitted on national television that she was wrong to hit her child, and in the rich tradition of creeps, plead not guilty. But this is clearly not a "parental rights" case involving spanking and discipline. This is outright child endangerment.

There's really only one thing to be decided at this point, which is how the mother should be punished. Her daughter has already been taken away (temporarily), but what else will be done?

In some parts of the world, the mother would be tied up and the child would be allowed to beat her attacker senseless. Of course, this is a little extreme, so as an alternative the offending mother could be beaten by a woman larger than herself. But alas, this is the United States, so we'll just trust the courts and the state to do the right thing and ensure justice is served. Right?

Jason Winsky is a political science junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Tylor Brand

Rethink why we should care more about this one

There really is no way to forgive the smug, self-validating attitude that has characterized Madelyn Gorman Toogood's interviews so far (and even less for the smarmy weasel she chose to hire as her attorney), particularly in light of what she did to her own child.

I worked as a lifeguard for three years, which included having to deal with rotten little bastards who could bring to mind images from "The Exorcist," but I found that earning their respect (and fear of my heavy handed authority that didn't involve physical torture) was a much handier weapon. Either Toogood's role model was Bing Crosby, or she's just not cut out for parenting.

The key here though is the use of media to capture this horrid act for the public's eyes. And I really think that the camera is what made it such a sensation since innumerable acts of child abuse take place daily that even exceed this in their gravity, but due to the media circus we may have a crime to be prosecuted to the full extent. But is that the only thing that makes this case relevant?

It's sad to think that thousands of children are forced to suffer, but that we couldn't give a damn unless they're on our television screens.

Tylor Brand is a philosophy sophomore. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Daniel Cucher

Madelyne ain't Too good a mama

Of course, our first concern should be the child's safety. Because it sounds like Madelyne Toogood comes from a long line of scumbags, it's not likely that her child will find solace among her clan. Authorities should find a safe temporary home for her.

In the meantime, we have to wonder whether someone like Madelyne should even be a parent. From the looks of the surveillance tapes, she's not getting any nominations for Mother of the Year.

Toogood obviously doesn't get the whole concept of maternity. Anyone who maliciously beats her child is not going to learn about good parenting from a government-mandated parenting seminar. But on the other hand, if she really wants to be a mother, it will be very difficult to stop her from procreating again. So what exactly can be done with this woman?

I say we have a good old-fashioned exorcism. Strap Madelyne to a bed and knock them demons right outta her. No? Damn that pesky separation between church and state.

So, instead · I don't know · let her serve some time, see if rehabilitation actually occurs in our justice system, and if she comes a long, long way, give her back her child.

And watch them both like a hawk.

Daniel Cucher is a creative writing senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Mariam Durrani

Public surveillance too bad for Toogood

Here is a mother who beat her child. I don't care what else you want to say about her. "Oh, she's a great mother." "She was having a bad day." "She's never done it before."

Enough bullshit, here are the facts. Madelyne Toogood is not the victim. She very roughly hit her 4-year-old daughter on tape. And it was in a public parking lot so I don't even want to hear about the privacy issues. We didn't catch her striking her child within her house, but on the street.

Mrs. Toogood already had a warrant out for her arrest for not showing up in court for shoplifting in Texas. She is also part of a nomadic group, the Irish Travelers, who go from city to city in search of jobs. These people can't attend school because of traveling and lack skills to get a stable job (thus, the shoplifting).

First, Toogood needs a timeout. She should sit and think about her actions. And in my opinion, for the deplorable act of battery to an innocent child, Toogood should get the longest sentence of three years. Little Martha should be put up for adoption so that she can get a better chance at life in U.S. society ÷ get an education and not be forced to shoplift for clothes or take out her anger on a small child.

Mariam Durrani is a systems engineering senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.