Student safety an issue
Groups hold forum in light of violence
Emily Reynolds, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News
The Student Government Association and The Office of African, Latino/a, Asian and Native American Affairs (ALANA) held a forum on the public safety of the campus based on recent violent events at the University of Massachusetts.
The event's intended topic was student safety, though much of the discussion centered around UMass student Jason Vassell, who was involved in a violent altercation on Feb. 3, and has since then been arrested for his participation in a stabbing in Southwest.
The organizations provided handouts detailing what happened to Vassell and the other people involved in the incident. The first to speak was professor Michael Thelwell of the African American studies department.
Speaking to a room that was so full that people were standing in the back and on the sides, he began his remarks by saying, "Thank you all for being here. I take that as your sense of community."
Thelwell stated the facts of the case, then followed up by talking about what students can do to make UMass a more secure place.
"We have to start the conversation that has to take place on this campus," Thelwell said. "UMass is a community of students, it's a community of faculty, it's a community of administrators - of black and white."
Another call for community learning to make UMass a safer campus came from Marianne Winters of the Everywoman's Center.
"I was asked to come here to talk about some of the broader implications," said Winters. "There is a lack of safety and a feeling of vulnerability in our community."
Winters added that the best way to help a community is to know more about it and educate its members to not only prevent crime, but also to encourage people to report crime.
UMass student trustee Ruth Thompson addressed the audience about campus safety and an e-mail sent by Interim Chancellor Thomas Cole last week to all students.
"He's calling on us to make this campus as safe as it should be," said Thompson.
The event's intended topic was student safety, though much of the discussion centered around UMass student Jason Vassell, who was involved in a violent altercation on Feb. 3, and has since then been arrested for his participation in a stabbing in Southwest.
The organizations provided handouts detailing what happened to Vassell and the other people involved in the incident. The first to speak was professor Michael Thelwell of the African American studies department.
Speaking to a room that was so full that people were standing in the back and on the sides, he began his remarks by saying, "Thank you all for being here. I take that as your sense of community."
Thelwell stated the facts of the case, then followed up by talking about what students can do to make UMass a more secure place.
"We have to start the conversation that has to take place on this campus," Thelwell said. "UMass is a community of students, it's a community of faculty, it's a community of administrators - of black and white."
Another call for community learning to make UMass a safer campus came from Marianne Winters of the Everywoman's Center.
"I was asked to come here to talk about some of the broader implications," said Winters. "There is a lack of safety and a feeling of vulnerability in our community."
Winters added that the best way to help a community is to know more about it and educate its members to not only prevent crime, but also to encourage people to report crime.
UMass student trustee Ruth Thompson addressed the audience about campus safety and an e-mail sent by Interim Chancellor Thomas Cole last week to all students.
"He's calling on us to make this campus as safe as it should be," said Thompson.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
C.H.
posted 2/19/08 @ 5:44 PM EST
The "other people" that you mention that were "involved in the incident" includes John Bowes, 20, of Hancock, N.H. However, it's interesting that you failed to point out that, as a result of his participation in (or should I say instigation of) the "violent altercation" on February 3rd, he has been charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery to intimidate with bodily injury and civil rights violations. (Continued…)
Rob
posted 2/20/08 @ 4:16 AM EST
There are way too many names here, what about the attempted rape/murder/kidnapping that happened in pierpont on feb. 2? I'd like to see an article about that as well. (Continued…)
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