We've received news that a stall will be held by our local police's EDI team on a nearby date on campus with the intention to offer advice on reporting a crime. The decision on having this stall lies mostly on the University, but I would like to see the SU challenge this and accurately advocate for students. I also propose putting a policy forward preventing hosting law enforcement on campus in order to coincide with plans in demilitarizing and decolonizing our university.
Tell us more about why you want the Students' Union to do it
Many, including myself, have expressed immense discomfort with having unnecessary police presence anywhere on campus. Historically and continuing into present day, we have witnessed how police have pathologically treated marginalized groups, those including POCs, LGBTQ, women, disabled and houseless communities. Those in said groups, and even on account outside of these communities, have continuously undergone mistreatment, profiling, dubiety, and even brutality by police. To hold a space that is suppose to be kept safe and centered around education, and to welcome police into that space, would be inappropriate.
In today's political climate, we have had a number of protests held locally and nationally with staff and students from our university attending these protests; many of which have had first hand encounters of mistreatment from police just from attending these protests. Having police on campus could put these individuals at risk in being targeted and doxxed.
Not only would having this stall or any further police involvement in the future, put a wide range of communities at our university at risk, but would also be of acceptance of a system we have seen time and time again fail and actively harm many. As hate speech and anti immigration rhetoric has spread in our city, police presence on campus would 'not' be a part of the solution to this issue, but would contribute directly to it. In return, a conversation on police reform needs to be held. In return, a conversation on how we can advocate and uplift the voices of those (especially those of marginalized groups) effectively needs to be held.