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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: News
Detainment sparks racial profiling claims
College student handcuffed by Penn Police says race was involved; DPS denies charges
Jared Miller and Anne Dobson
An incident Wednesday night has sparked outrage among campus minority groups, who allege that Penn Police and security guards used racial profiling in detaining a black male College student.
The United Minorities Council issued a statement yesterday demanding that the University address several of the organization's concerns relating to the "institutional discrimination" that "persists within our university."
The statement came as a result of an incident outside Huntsman Hall Wednesday night, in which a black male undergraduate student was temporarily handcuffed by Penn Police after a verbal altercation between the student and Allied Barton security guards.
The student in question, who requested anonymity for this article, claimed that police unecessarily handcuffed him simply because security allegedly assumed, due to his race, that he was not affiliated with the University.
But Division of Public Safety officials allege that the student had become confrontational with two Allied Barton security guards and police followed protocol by temporarily detaining him before it was determined that no crime had occurred.
According to the student, a female security guard first confronted him when he attempted to gain entry into Huntsman through the Walnut Street entrance at a little past 7 p.m.
DPS Spokeswoman Karima Zedan said that the security guard stopped the student because that entrance closes at 7 p.m.
The student eventually walked around to the Locust Walk entrance, which was still open at the time.
At around 7:50 p.m., the student was leaving the building through the Walnut Street side when he saw the same security guard.
The student said that he asked the guard for her name because he felt that she had acted improperly earlier.
Zedan said that the guard "felt uncomfortable" and the guard's supervisor soon arrived to assist in the situation.
After the supervisor arrived, Zedan said that the student "continued to be confrontational" and the supervisor radioed police.
The United Minorities Council issued a statement yesterday demanding that the University address several of the organization's concerns relating to the "institutional discrimination" that "persists within our university."
The statement came as a result of an incident outside Huntsman Hall Wednesday night, in which a black male undergraduate student was temporarily handcuffed by Penn Police after a verbal altercation between the student and Allied Barton security guards.
The student in question, who requested anonymity for this article, claimed that police unecessarily handcuffed him simply because security allegedly assumed, due to his race, that he was not affiliated with the University.
But Division of Public Safety officials allege that the student had become confrontational with two Allied Barton security guards and police followed protocol by temporarily detaining him before it was determined that no crime had occurred.
According to the student, a female security guard first confronted him when he attempted to gain entry into Huntsman through the Walnut Street entrance at a little past 7 p.m.
DPS Spokeswoman Karima Zedan said that the security guard stopped the student because that entrance closes at 7 p.m.
The student eventually walked around to the Locust Walk entrance, which was still open at the time.
At around 7:50 p.m., the student was leaving the building through the Walnut Street side when he saw the same security guard.
The student said that he asked the guard for her name because he felt that she had acted improperly earlier.
Zedan said that the guard "felt uncomfortable" and the guard's supervisor soon arrived to assist in the situation.
After the supervisor arrived, Zedan said that the student "continued to be confrontational" and the supervisor radioed police.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 37
Leon
posted 3/23/07 @ 7:42 AM EST
Hey "victimized student" and student groups, why do you think this situation merits the attention it is and will be getting? It ain't worth it! Learn to deal with anger, disappointment and the day to day irritants around you. (Continued…)
Alan Krigman
posted 3/23/07 @ 8:31 AM EST
Penn and its pervasive highly-skilled thoroughly-trained rent-a-cop approach to a "partnership with the community." You don't actually expect professionalism, do you?
Scott
posted 3/23/07 @ 10:07 AM EST
The article did not show discuss what lead up to the differences with the secruity guard. I would imagine that a security guard has the obligation to ask and examine any Penn card of anyone entering the facility. (Continued…)
alum
posted 3/23/07 @ 10:14 AM EST
the minority community will continue to make slow progress towards true acceptance and equality so long as certain individuals like this constantly allege discrimination. (Continued…)
Don't stop me
posted 3/23/07 @ 11:26 AM EST
As a black man on campus I feel that all available alternatives should be exhausted before any authority figure stops me for anything. Because of past behavior by the white majority I am owed this. (Continued…)
Student
posted 3/23/07 @ 11:33 AM EST
The security supervisor (apparently erroneously) called this into police as a fight in progress, which is why the student was detained. Race had nothing to do w/ it. (Continued…)
parent
posted 3/23/07 @ 11:34 AM EST
IF the investigation determines that security acted within reasonable and legitimate bounds of its mission, and that this particular student was "testing" the system, then he does a disservice to everyone in the community. (Continued…)
Penn '05
posted 3/23/07 @ 1:04 PM EST
When I was a student at Penn two years ago I was denied entrance to Hunstman Hall via Walnut Street several times when it was after hours. I am a white female. (Continued…)
teacher
posted 3/23/07 @ 1:05 PM EST
It is extraordinary to see the willingness of educated people to give up their rights ("The fact of the matter is, in our society police can stop you for whatever they want if there's a doubt of suspicion. (Continued…)
Penn Alum
posted 3/23/07 @ 4:15 PM EST
Teacher, I hope my kids are never in your classroom. You are incredibly idealistic.
Anyway, I agree with the people above me who have said that 1) this kid was unnecessarily difficult. (Continued…)
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