KEARNEY — University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen retired May 31 after four decades of public service that he said represents “living proof” of NU’s mission.

At the risk of sounding like a social media meme or a Hallmark card, if we can be anything, we should be kind. And if we can’t be kind, maybe we could muster up some simple manners. Or, short of that, perhaps a sort of social neutrality where busting someone’s chops or eviscerating them emotionally is not our primary purpose.

It happened right in front of my house. Last Friday morning, at 3:30 a.m. to be exact, my nanny heard noises. She went to the window and saw two men climbing under her late model Toyota Tacoma truck. She found her key fob and immediately sounded the alarm, and the two men quickly drove off in a white Toyota. The damage was done. They had stolen the catalytic converter in a matter of minutes.