STUDENTS TELL THEIR STORIES “We all felt each other’s pain.” By Kira Maddox Terri Stewart, director of the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, failed to respond to numerous attempts to contact her for comment. Michael Leary, assistant director of the Office of Judicial Affairs, declined to comment on this incident, saying reports fall under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Philip Garin, a paralegal in the Division of Human and Legal Resources, declined to confirm, deny or comment on this incident’s being reported under Title IX, citing FERPA.
Seniors Jennifer Spearman, left, and Jasmine Spearman, right, were handcuffed by Public Safety officers Oct. 26, 2013, after a party in their Circles apartment was broken up by Public Safety.
Jennifer Spearman had a group over to their Circle apartment for a party. Music was playing, and people were dancing. Somewhere between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m., Brooks said, a Public Safety officer entered the apartment uninvited through the back screen door along with two members of the Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol. Brooks said she did not believe entering their home without consent was allowed. According to the Ithaca College Residential Agreement, the college “has the right to enter the apartments and rooms to respond to emergencies, provide repairs or maintenance and/or enforce college policies.” Spearman and Johnston said the officer later claimed he had entered the apartment because he smelled marijuana, but both of them said there was none. The beam of the officer’s flashlight combed the living room as students rushed to leave through the front door of the apartOn Oct. 26, 2013, roommates Monifa ment, Brooks said. About five to 10 students Brooks ’15, Sawu Johnston ’14, and cur- who did not live at the residence did not rent seniors Jasmine Spearman and make it out in time and stayed in the living On Oct. 26, 2013, between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m., Ithaca College students Jasmine and Jennifer* Spearman got into a physical altercation with two Public Safety officers after the officers entered their Circles apartment to investigate a noise complaint. Jasmine said she was pushed up against a wall in the apartment and handcuffed and said her sister was shoved onto one of the apartment’s couches, where Master Patrol Officer Brad Bates proceeded to kneel on her back and handcuff her. Jennifer’s lip was split open in the altercation. They were written up, and Jennifer was ticketed for disorderly conduct. After bringing the incident to Judicial Affairs, Jasmine said the charges — the noise complaint write-up and the disorderly conduct ticket — were dropped.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JASMINE SPEARMAN
room as Brooks and her roommates — all young, black women — were told to sit on one of the couches. Brooks, Johnston and Spearman said they complied. “I turn on the lights, we’re all sitting down — there’s a couple people in our house who weren’t really a part of it, but they also sat down,” Brooks said. “And we’re waiting for them to take our names and take our ID numbers and tell us what we’re getting written up for.” Then the officer said he was calling in more officers. “Before he could do any of that, he said, ‘I’m outnumbered. I’m calling for backup,’” Brooks said. “Mind you, we’re all maybe — no one’s taller than maybe 5’6” at the most, and we’re all petite girls. Everyone is sitting down. Everybody’s complying to what is asked of us.” Johnston expressed similar feelings, noting the size advantage the officer had on them. “Me and all my roommates, we’re
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