2008 Woodie Awards
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Northern Illinois tragedy can not be used as a reason to bring Tasers to campus
Letter to the editor
At the very first University Senate meeting of the school year, newly hired Department of Public Safety Director Kevin Williams was introduced by University President Dave Frohnmayer. Immediately, I addressed the body and raised concern regarding Director Williams' public statements in support of DPS officers being armed with Tasers. His response was typically vague. Then on Thursday, not more than a few hours after the tragic news from Northern Illinois University reached our campus, Williams confronted a group of students and asked one in particular what she thought of increased DPS and Eugene Police Department presence on campus. Unfortunately for Williams, he picked the wrong student to single out: Survival Center Co-Director Tara Burke. Burke explained the drawbacks to over-policing the University campus, noting especially that students of color are disproportionately targeted by both DPS and EPD. Williams' reaction: To ask the students if they wanted what happened at NIU to happen at UO. This blatant politicizing of the deaths of my academic peers is not only disrespectful to a grieving community, it is unacceptable behavior for a public official. If Williams thinks he can use the deaths of our University sisters and brothers to push his agenda, he should think twice. If he thinks students are going to stand idly by while the Department of Public Safety takes advantage of our loss, he has another thing coming altogether.
Nate Gulley
Ethnic Studies Major, University Senator
Nate Gulley
Ethnic Studies Major, University Senator
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Rick Hawley
posted 2/18/08 @ 12:15 PM PST
What happened at NIU goes to show exactly why UO needs professionally trained armed police officers on campus. A majority of campuses across the nation have actual police officers responding to calls on campus, not unarmed and lower paid security. (Continued…)
Dirk
posted 2/18/08 @ 12:48 PM PST
What's the big deal with tasers? DPS carries batons -- metal rods capable of bashing your skull in. Personally, I'd rather be tasered. If students of color are unfairly targeted, Nate might be interested in stopping the carrying of batons as well. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 2/18/08 @ 2:50 PM PST
I personally don't see how having armed officers or giving DPS officers tasers would ever stop someone from shooting up a classroom. Unless the University wants to install a metal detector and police officer at every entrance to every building, it just isn't going to happen. (Continued…)
Tim
posted 2/18/08 @ 4:24 PM PST
Since the Daily Emerald chooses to focus on drama instead of finding the solution to the problem, I am going to post my solution, which they would never include in the paper:
Now that another major shooting has happened, it is time that people wake up. (Continued…)
Indeed!
posted 2/18/08 @ 4:33 PM PST
Mr. Gulley is correct. The answer is *NOT* Tasers for DPS, which has shown that it's barely capable of keeping it's own house in order.
A far more logical reaction would be to take steps to ensure that students at the University of Oregon are afforded their Constitutional right to bear arms. (Continued…)
nathan
posted 2/19/08 @ 1:59 PM PST
Like everyone else that writes into this paper they all accuse DPS and EPD of profiling and picking on minorities. Yet once again Tara Burke was unable to provide specific example to how and when these incidents happen. (Continued…)
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