Letters
In a record student turnout for MSA elections last winter, 70% of students voted against the deputization of a private U-M police force, accountable to the regents alone. The regents chose to ignore this. Over the summer, when the majority of students were not on campus and unable to protest, the regents voted to create a 24-person armed force.
At the last regent's meeting, over 250 students packed the public comments section, demanding that the regents reverse their decision and allow student input into the issue of safety. Students argued that arming private officers would not lead to increased safety, but merely to increased harassment of students, particularly students of color, women, gay men, bisexuals and lesbians. Spending millions of dollars on arming cops will make no student feel safer; it will lead to a diversion of funds away from programs that really increase campus safety, such as Safewalk, increased lighting and education. It will lead to union busting. It will lead to i huge tuition increases.
The regents are returning to Ann Arbor on November 15. This will give students another opportunity to voice their disapproval against the ness of the university regents and administration. Gather at the cube at 1 pm.
Also, the MSA Student Rights Commission has open meetings every Tuesday at 6 pm in the MSA office, third floor, Mich. Union. All interested in helping organize against deputization are encouraged to attend or cali 763-3241 for more information.
Mark Buchen
ANN ARBOR, MI
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Thanks for the Intro
I got your October AGENDA. I especially liked Stephanie Harrell's "Hidden Treasure." Two sentences particularly caught my eye, probably because they pretty much summed up my philosophy: "[H]e never claimed right and justice as the peculiar possession of those who agreed with him." And "His belief was that if people would open thier minds enough to listen, a climate would gradually be created where people could live fuller lives."
I wish I could have the opportunity to peruse the Labadie Collection, but that's impossible, unfortunately for me. I do appreciate Ms. Harrell introducing me to it though.
George Norris Hall
COLDWATER, MI