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Portland (Otiserucr
October 22, 2014
PSU Police
continued
from fron t
program.
He said the proposal has esca­
lated, “from a poor idea into the
outrageous realm.”
“The national trend is that people
of color and those from the Middle
East, and many others, who know
they are marginalized and are pro­
filed by police, are pushing back
and they are finding more allies,” he
said.
Hastings said authorities across
the county are finding that what’s
needed for public safety is training
for police to learn de-escalation, how
to handle mental health issues with­ /Is Portland State University considers utilizing an armed police force, s t u d e n t ^ n d o t h e ^ M ^ ig h t ^ c t iv is t^ r ^ a is in g c o n c e ^ .
out using lethal force, and how to campus, he said.
learn some cultural respect and sen­
Vogal and Hastings are both in­
sitivity.
volved with the Portland Peace
“The police who are armed tend Team, a volunteer group that “pro­
to rely on their intimidation; police vides nonviolent nonpartisan con­
who are unarmed learn these other flict transformation services for the
skills more often and do far less public,” according to its Facebook
damage,” he said.
page.
Student groups voicing their
The group often works at local
opposition also say that PSU needs protests and rallies, mediating po­
to change how it thinks about safety tential conflicts as an alternative to
rather than increasing police power police intervention. While the group
on campus,.
does not have a direct relationship
“We should focus on restorative with PSU, something similar could
justice,” said Deyalo Bennette, a form on campus.
member of PSU’s Black Student
“[Nonviolent security] can be
Union, who calls for the university done. We see it happen all the time
to work more with social workers, with the Peace Team,” said Vogal.
doctors and mediators engaging in
While it is possible that campus
conflict resolution.
officers could become deputized
Bennette says adding a police without being armed, it is unlikely
It <*■*-.
-
force would be a step back to a the school will go that route. That
pipeline-to-prison system that does would do little to address some of
not fix the root cause of social ills. the very issues that are bringing on
“Shooting someone definitely this proposal, such as an active
does not fix the root cause,” he said. shooter situation or other violent
While the task force recommends crimes, said Gallagher. But if the
expanding the authority of campus board approves the proposal for
safety officers, Bennette contends sworn campus police, not all offic­
that additional police power will not ers would be armed.
make students feel safer.
“The plan would be to have some
“The ability to make arrests... for deputized, some a continuation of
LET'S MAKE SOME MORE FRESH AIR
people of color, that’s frightening,” the current public safety office, and
he said, adding that he knows sev­ therefore not d ep u tized ,” said
eral students of color who have had Gallagher. This would allow the cam­
negative interactions with campus pus police to send unarmed, non-
safety officers and worry about deputized officers to assist with
worse interactions with a deputized safety escorts, and other lower-risk
police force.
services.
Leona Kindermann, a member of
Still, for Hastings and the other
the PSU Student Union, echoed the student leaders, an expansion of
importance of a shift in thinking police power on campus is a move in
about campus safety. “It’s an atti­ the wrong direction.
tude o f everyone being involved in
“The Portland Police have a very
security, not this ‘someone’s com­ poor record of beating mentally ill
ing to save us’ idea,” she said.
people to death, of shooting un­
Kindermann envisions an under­ armed people of color, and receiv­
graduate class that teaches students ing no indictments and paid vaca­
conflict resolution tactics, which tion,” said Hastings. “Now they
students could then employ as part want to bring this out to our cam­
of campus security. PSU’s existing pus?”
Conflict Resolution program is well-
A ll O re g o n S ta te Parks arc now sm o ke fre e . O u r parks,
The board of trustees’ Special
known for being an example for other Committee on Campus Public Safety
p la yg ro u n d s and o th e r re c re a tio n a l areas are places
universities.
will meet this coming Monday, Oct.
w here O re g o n ia n s can e n jo y th e o u td o o rs and b re a th e
“On the West Coast, when people 27, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the
fresh air. Let s m ake som e m o re fresh air.
think about conflict resolution, they Willamette Room at University Place
think about PSU,” said Adam Vogal, Hotel, located at 310 S.W. Lincoln
a member of PSU’s Students United St. The committee will discuss the
S M O K E F R E E O R E G O N .C O M
ft W H A T S F O R S A L E
1 IKE US O N F A C E B O O K
for Nonviolence group. The univer­ task force’s recommendations. The
sity has an opportunity to act as an meeting is open to the public, and
example of how alternative security there will be an opportunity for pub­
measures can function on a college lic comment.
THE AIR IN
OREGON
STATE PARKS
JUST GOT A
LITTLE FRESHER
SMOKEFREE
O re g o n