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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: News
Campus reacts to racial profiling claim
DPS conducts investigation of student's racial profiling allegations; UA releases statement
Jimmy Tobias
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Last Wednesday, a black male College student was temporarily detained outside of Huntsman Hall by Penn Police.
The College student, who requested anonymity, told The Daily Pennsylvanian that the police handcuffed him for security concerns that, in actuality, were based on his race.
DPS officials, however, said the student had become confrontational with the two security guards, and that the police responded appropriately by temporarily detaining the student before determining that no crime had occurred.
DPS is currently investigating the incident.
In the meantime, the issue was brought to the UA during its weekly meeting last Sunday.
At the meeting, the UA issued a "statement of concern" about "perceptions on campus of bias-based profiling."
The statement expressed the UA's support of DPS's continued investigation and collection of all facts about the situation.
The UA plans on raising this issue at Wednesday's University Council meeting, at which students and faculty advise the President and Provost on University-wide issues.
The UA's statement was made after leaders of major minority coalitions on campus - including the United Minorities Council, Lambda Alliance and the Asian Pacific Student Coalition - issued a statement expressing their own concerns about what they consider to have been "bias-based profiling."
"We cannot actively support this institution until we can trust that our needs are a priority and will result in action," the groups wrote in a statement to the UA and the University administration last Thursday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 16
Go Figure
posted 3/27/07 @ 7:55 AM EST
And to think that the DPS leadership kiss the asses of these minority students for years so they wouldn't complain. How ungrateful! Oh, did I mention that robberies are through the roof. (Continued…)
Black Student '09
posted 3/27/07 @ 8:06 AM EST
There was no racial profiling! This kid and the UMC just want to get people talking and feel like they're addressing an issue, when it is in fact non-existent; at least not in this case. (Continued…)
A. Rahman Ford
posted 3/27/07 @ 8:48 AM EST
I applaud all those undergraduates who are taking a serious stance on this issue. Many would like you to remain silent and simply let the moment pass unremarked, but the voice that your actions give to the matter speaks loudly. (Continued…)
Frank F
posted 3/27/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
Does the template appear familiar to anyone? A minority person's behavior is questioned and/or curbed by authorities. The matter is brought to the attention of minority rights pressure groups who then do their usual PR campagian to create indignation, in the process enhancing their power and political influence. (Continued…)
Stiv
posted 3/27/07 @ 10:43 AM EST
Handcuffing is fairly standard procedure ensuring safety of the police and the public until the facts of an incident are sorted out.
The police certainly have a "no win" situation here at Penn. (Continued…)
It Simply Needs to Be Said
posted 3/27/07 @ 11:17 AM EST
The kid is anonymous because he is not apart of the case...he could care less and wants to be left alone...in fact, he never rang the alarm in the first place. (Continued…)
Scott
posted 3/27/07 @ 11:51 AM EST
The kid was detained because a security guard said he was fighting. Where did the police go wrong?
If (emphasis on "if") anyone is wrong here, it's the security supervisor for calling in a fight-in-progress. (Continued…)
Penn '08
African-American student
posted 3/27/07 @ 11:54 AM EST
Stop playing the victim card. I'm glad this kid got busted for his behavior.
What Behavior?
posted 3/27/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
What behavior did the kid commit...he didn't complain!
The Fuzz
posted 3/27/07 @ 3:14 PM EST
Remember when the po po busted up that AXO event at World Cafe Live and were handcuffing and beating on kids just trying to get in the venue? They were white, and they were treated the same way. (Continued…)
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