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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: News
Groups speak out on police 'bias'
Other instances of bias, excessive force noted after student's detention last week
Samuel Dangremond
Student minority groups are speaking out against the Division of Public Safety in response to an incident last week in which a black College student was detained, calling it part of a larger trend of bias-based profiling.
This profiling, students say, hasn't always been racial in nature - various groups, minority or otherwise, have been targeted with excessive force and unwarranted escalation in the past, according to groups like the United Minorities Council and Lambda Alliance.
For example, allegations of Penn Police officers using excessive force to control a crowd arose during a Big Man on Campus event hosted by Alpha Chi Omega sorority in November 2005.
Police were called to the scene to help disperse a crowd of 400 to 600 people outside the venue, World Cafe Live. Two students were arrested, and several others were detained and released in the aftermath.
Lambda Alliance chairman and College junior Kevin Rurak said the way police handled that event demonstrated their bias against members of fraternities and sororities.
And, in October 2003, Rui DaSilva, an associate faculty master in Spruce College House, was arrested as he was attempting to bring a set of delivered bicycles into the Quadrangle.
DaSilva, who is black, claimed that race was a factor in the arrest, and student groups agreed.
Charges of disorderly conduct against DaSilva were dropped soon after the incident.
Former University President Judith Rodin ordered the creation of a committee to study general trends within the Penn Police that later recommended that police receive increased training in dealing with race.
But UMC Chairwoman and College sophomore Efe Johnson says the increased training hasn't had enough of an effect.
"There is a perceived element of defensiveness and [an] air of 'damage control' surrounding the reaction to the incidents on campus on the part of DPS," Johnson wrote in an e-mail. "Time after time, there continues to be insubstantial change."
This profiling, students say, hasn't always been racial in nature - various groups, minority or otherwise, have been targeted with excessive force and unwarranted escalation in the past, according to groups like the United Minorities Council and Lambda Alliance.
For example, allegations of Penn Police officers using excessive force to control a crowd arose during a Big Man on Campus event hosted by Alpha Chi Omega sorority in November 2005.
Police were called to the scene to help disperse a crowd of 400 to 600 people outside the venue, World Cafe Live. Two students were arrested, and several others were detained and released in the aftermath.
Lambda Alliance chairman and College junior Kevin Rurak said the way police handled that event demonstrated their bias against members of fraternities and sororities.
And, in October 2003, Rui DaSilva, an associate faculty master in Spruce College House, was arrested as he was attempting to bring a set of delivered bicycles into the Quadrangle.
DaSilva, who is black, claimed that race was a factor in the arrest, and student groups agreed.
Charges of disorderly conduct against DaSilva were dropped soon after the incident.
Former University President Judith Rodin ordered the creation of a committee to study general trends within the Penn Police that later recommended that police receive increased training in dealing with race.
But UMC Chairwoman and College sophomore Efe Johnson says the increased training hasn't had enough of an effect.
"There is a perceived element of defensiveness and [an] air of 'damage control' surrounding the reaction to the incidents on campus on the part of DPS," Johnson wrote in an e-mail. "Time after time, there continues to be insubstantial change."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Stop crying
posted 3/28/07 @ 8:31 AM EST
When will these poor minority students stop crying? The Penn police stop thousands of people every year and every once in awhile a black student gets stopped, usually for acting like an asshole. (Continued…)
how about
posted 3/28/07 @ 10:19 AM EST
When you ask a uniformed guard their name they tell it to you?
Puritanical Rightwing Nutjob
posted 3/28/07 @ 10:33 AM EST
So we're listening to a college sophomore and the gay rights crowd? These are people who are over-sensitized to seeing oppression and discrimination whenever something doesn't go their way. (Continued…)
This is a "guard" issue.
posted 3/28/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
Isn't this clearly an issue of a poorly trained security guard and guard supervisor? DPS is responsible for this. I would give the police a pass on this one. (Continued…)
Guards & Police all report to the same person
posted 3/28/07 @ 1:21 PM EST
The common denominator in the racial profiling by police and security guards and dramatic increase in violent crimes during the past years is the leader. (Continued…)
Spruce Hill Mom
posted 3/28/07 @ 4:55 PM EST
Since when is a guard wrong for following procedure? According to earlier articles, the student tried to enter the building after 7PM through an entrance that closes at 7PM. (Continued…)
I guess at Penn ignorance is still bliss...
posted 3/30/07 @ 1:17 AM EST
I cannot believe how ignorant some people are. The very fact that you would use the term "these poor minority students" shows that you already consciously don't view minorities on the same level as yourself. (Continued…)
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