opiNioN/stREEtalk

By JEff MItCHELL

Racism and policing

The University of Nevada, Reno has a problem with racism and policing. While these two issues may appear separate, they’re intertwined. Just take a look at UNR’s recent press statements. Many concern either embarrassing/ unethical behavior on the part of the UNR police, the issue of racism on campus, or both. The following events draw a straight line connecting the two.

Recently, a UNR student was made infamous by his attendance at the white supremacist rally. Swastikas have been painted in campus hallways, and police have been caught on tape joking about shooting a graduate student during a traffic stop. All of this was topped off with embarrassing national news of photographs of a UNR police officer dressed in black face as alumnus Colin Kaepernick with a sign around his neck that reads “Will stand for food.” The university’s response to these blatantly problematic events has been to issue statement after tepid statement begrudgingly admitting that while it officially condemns this behavior it has no concrete plans prevent it from happening in the future. Not surprisingly, the university has reported having heard from the “community … over the past few weeks that they feel unsafe on campus because of our current social and political climate.”

And why should they feel safe? The people charged with protecting them have created a crisis of confidence,

and another half-hearted press release is not going to fix things. The university administration and police must take a stand to show that they are actually concerned about these issues, even if they are legally unable to bring disciplinary action against the actors involved. Lucky, UNR has among its alumni a now famous civil rights activist, who specializes in the intersection between racism and policing. That’s right. Say it with me ... Colin Kaepernick! I call on the UNR President Marc UNR has among its alumni a now famous Johnson and Director of Police Services Adam Garcia to invite Kaepernick to speak on campus. This should civil rights activist, include an invitation for Kap to run who specializes in the intersection between one of his “Know Your Rights” camps aimed at raising awareness on higher education, self-empowerment racism and policing. and instructions for interactions with police. It should also include a meeting with Kap and members of the various campus organizations representing the interests of people of color to address their concerns and begin to take lasting steps to make people feel safe. Sponsoring such an event won’t fix all of the issues listed above, but it will be a strong symbolic step in the right direction, one the university needs to take before it develops a reputation for being on the wrong side of history. Ω Jeff Mitchell is a former adjunct professor and double alumnus from the University of Nevada, Reno’s Department of Sociology.

Best restaurant you’ve been to?

asked at Foxy oLive, 220 MiLL st.

BoB Harington

Manager I’ve got it. It would have to be Scotty’s in Carson City. They closed down, but I used to go there all the time with my grandpa. And we’d just hang out for hours.

JacoB Leveroni

Software engineer And it can’t be a bar, because I can’t count a liquid dinner, huh? It doesn’t have to be a bar. What’s the Thai place that was on Virginia that moved up off of Mount Rose? Bangkok. I love Bangkok Cuisine’s Panang curry. It’s good food.

Jessica Pantera

Bartender Anywhere Tony Ashworth is cooking. Well, he’s actually doing consulting for Clint Jolly right now. So he’s doing everything right now.

andrew warBington

Bartender Damn, that’s hard. I could tell you that the Great Full Garden’s grilled cheese sandwich is the best in town. In Fernley, there’s a 76 gas station, and in their deli they serve falafel. So you ate there? So you know how good it is.

gino cavaLieri

Retiree It’d have to be back in Buffalo— a good, old Italian restaurant called Santorini’s. The fifth generation is running the place now. They’ve got great Italian food. It’s the one thing I miss.