ZAC BEARS:
“SOCIALIZED RACISM: THE ‘DEMON’ INSIDE DARREN WILSON” PAGE 4
UM BASKETBALL PAGE 8
HEARTACHE AT HARVARD
THE MASSACHUSETTS
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Monday, December 1, 2014
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SGA creates MinuteMarshals policing program Initiative to go into effect starting this spring By Anthony Rentsch Collegian Staff
When former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis released a report in September advising the University of Massachusetts on ways to deal with large, crowd-related disturbances, he specifically focused on incidents such last spring’s “Blarney Blowout.” Among his proposals was a call for a system of community policing. The MinuteMarshals program, a student-led initiative from Student Government Association senator Stefan Herlitz and Speaker of the Senate Sïonan Barrett, is a response to that call. “We are never going to change stu-
dents drinking,” Barrett said. “But we can change the way we interact and how safe we are.” The program is an effort to incorporate peer-to-peer de-escalation techniques at large student gatherings. “It is about helping students celebrate safely,” Herlitz said. The MinuteMarshals will be composed of a core group of about 30 paid, undergraduate students who will attend large student gatherings and practice active bystandership. This includes, but is not limited to, warning students about the risks of having open containers, informing students when police issue a dispersion order and generally advising students to act responsibly. The role of these students does not stop here. They will also be tasked with providing positive social messaging to peers and community
members beforehand by knocking on doors and using social media to create a safe atmosphere around these gatherings. “(This model) is effective because it is coming from students themselves,” Barrett said. In addition, the MinuteMarshals program will make service grants available to Registered Student Organizations. Similar to the Mullins Center cleanup, in which groups can apply to pick up trash after an event in return for funding, RSOs can apply to send at least 10 members to receive training for and work at a gathering in return for about $350, making it one of the highest paid fundraisers on campus. Sally Linowski, assistant dean of students and staff coordinator of the MinuteMarshals, is especially excitsee
POLICING on page 2
CONOR SNELL/COLLEGIAN
Police clear an area of Brandywine during “Blarney Blowout” on Saturday, March 8.
A day to reflect
SGA releases an official statement on Davis report Students aim to prevent ‘Blarney’ By Stuart Foster Collegian Correspondent
CADE BELISLE/COLLEGIAN
Community members gathered to discuss and express their thoughts on the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri on Tuesday in the Cape Cod Lounge.
No severance given to Darren Wilson Mayor to diversify Ferguson police
dents and law enforcement and encourage more officers to reside in Ferguson. In a message directed at activists continuing to proBy Steve Giegerich test the death of Michael St. Louis Post-Dispatch Brown, Knowles said that FERGUSON, Mo. — Mayor the city will not award a sevJames Knowles III Sunday erance package to Darren announced measures intend- Wilson, the Ferguson officer ed to increase the minority who resigned Saturday nearpresence on the police force, ly four months after shooting open a dialogue between resi- Brown on a Ferguson street.
“As far as the city of Ferguson is concerned we have now severed ties with Officer Darren Wilson,” the mayor said at a news conference. “It is important for us to talk about issues directly related to the city of Ferguson and what issues we can directly address as a city moving forward to bring our community together.” Knowles said Wilson informed Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson of the resignation by telephone. A resignation letter was delivered to the city attorney Saturday night, several hours after Wilson’s lawyers released its contents to the news media. A decision by a St. Louis County grand jury not to file criminal charges against Wilson in Brown’s death sparked renewed rioting Monday night. Demonstrations in the ensuing days - including proMCT tests at area shopping malls A protester raises her hands in front of police after the grand jury decision. over the holiday weekend -
have remained mostly peaceful. Jackson, who accompanied Knowles at the news conference, said again that he will not resign. Contrary to published reports, the mayor said, the city did not give Wilson a deadline to resign. Nor, he added, did the city ask for or pressure Wilson to leave the department. Knowles listed a series of initiatives the city is undertaking to “bridge the gap” between members of the community “who feel there is a divide between them and law enforcement.” Chief among those steps is a previously announced civilian review board, comprising residents, business owners and law enforcement, to address grievances arising from interactions between police and residents. Knowles also said the city will redouble its effort see
WILSON on page 2
At the last routine Monday meeting of the University of Massachusetts Student Government Association, members read and responded to parts of the Ed Davis report on the 2014 “Blarney Blowout.” “We just gave our suggestions about what we should do to prevent ‘Blarney,’” said Ryan DiZoglio, a senior political science major and SGA senator. Jennifer Raichel, a junior environmental science major and chairwoman of the Undergraduate Experience Committee, was a primary author of the official SGA statement re garding “Blarney,” which was read at the meeting. SGA members were very receptive to Davis’ report, and agreed with the findings, which showed the responsibility for the Blowout as being shared by students, the University, the Amherst Police Department and the UMass Police Department. “The University’s focus had a big part in the event,” Raichel said, adding the administration sent out an email warn-
ing students to not attend “Blarney” prior to the event, which made students more aware of the occurrence. The way in which violence escalated during the event was also a major focus of the report. “Because they had such a small number of officers, they chose to put on riot gear before engaging with students. They felt that they had to use chemical weapons,” Raichel said. Only 24 APD officers and four UMPD officers were initially present at the event. “The real issue was just the violence and arrests,” she said. “We don’t want our students to be involved with damaging property,” DiZoglio said. “Image here is key. We made national news in the worst possible way.” Ed Davis, former Boston police commissioner, was hired by the University to research the conditions which led to the “Blarney Blowout” in an attempt to establish necessary precautions to avoid a similar situation next year. The SGA is attempting to use the Davis report to help prevent a similar situation from occurring. “We have sent the letter out to all relevant parties,” Raichel said. “We’re really looking for more action see
DAVIS on page 2
ARAZ HAVAN/COLLEGIAN
Ed Davis speaks at a news conference at the University of Massachusetts following the release of his report on Sept. 19.