Students call to abolish TUPD
Josh Jessiman | Photography Editor
September 3, 2020
Tulane and Loyola University students organized at 6400 Freret St., where McAlister Drive meets Percival Stern Hall to march in protest of the Tulane University Police Department on Aug. 31. The march followed a number of allegations against TUPD and was part of a larger conversation against police violence worldwide.
“TUPD officers are just NOPD in a slightly different uniform,” a caption under the first post on the AbolishTUPD Instagram account said. “They are required to work for NOPD before they work for TUPD. They still have full arresting power and Tulane loves to make students feel like TUPD is a ‘chill version of NOPD’ but they’re not. TUPD is absolutely capable of this violence.”
The protest organizers called for a student walkout at 1 p.m., with the march to follow at 1:45 p.m. The group, AbolishTUPD, calls for the immediate abolition of the TUPD. Per the AbolishTUPD Twitter page, “Abolishing TUPD is an important project … both for the liberation and healing of our campus and also our community.” Furthermore, AbolishTUPD advocates for the obsoletion of all prisons and police departments around the country. Beginning on Freret Street, the protestors made their first turn down Broadway Street, eventually making a left on St. Charles Avenue, heading to Audubon Park.
The protest yielded upwards of 150 attendees. Protestors had a wide array of personal reasons for marching, but many of them were inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
According to the protest organizer, this was “a very good turnout.”
When asked if she could tell TUPD one thing, one protestor responded, “For them stop putting Black people, Black students, Black workers, Black anybody in positions where ultimately it will result in their death or harm. I’m tired of them exploiting us.”
“The safety and security of our campus community is always a top priority and our police department plays a vital role in those efforts,” Mike Strecker, executive director of public relations at Tulane said. “The department focuses on community policing, where our officers strive to work hand-in-hand with the campus community. At the same time, we acknowledge the pain and suffering felt by Black people and other people of color regarding police brutality and the long history in our country of intolerable abuses. We need to come together as a community and work collaboratively toward finding solutions to make Tulane a more diverse, equitable and just community.”
When the protestors arrived at Audubon Park, they turned onto the grass, to listen to speakers from the community. They were quickly met with a security guard, however, ordering the crowd to vacate the park.
The protestors refused to disperse until all their speakers were given the opportunity to speak.The protest ended soon after the police arrived. The organizers urged the attendees to practice safety, and leave the park in groups.
The AbolishTUPD instagram page can be found here.
T. O’Shannon • Sep 21, 2020 at 4:10 pm
Michael, while I realize many sexual assaults go unreported to the police, they typically do get reported to student services and or a hospital. My head is far from in the sand. I deal with this on a daily basis working in the healthcare field. I see students coming in at an alarming rate, but few are Tulane students. Yes, they do come in and yes in some cases they don’t wish to get police involved, but it’s not because they’re afraid they won’t be believed by the police, it’s because of shame and what their parents will think. Most students know if reported to the police, they will investigate and the perpetrator may be caught. They are afraid to relive the experience over again if it happens to go to court, more then likely friends and family will know about it.
So for you to say that students are not reporting sexual assaults because of the police, you’re sorely mistaken and are in fact part of the problem. Trying to fill uneducated individuals with your lies because you have an issue with authority. Makes me wonder why.. Maybe you have had run ins with TUPD or NOPD and are bitter because you’re a miscreant.
Also, I did some digging on that article you posted about a TUPD Officer raping a student. There were never any charges filed against this officer because the “victim” recanted his story stating that he made the story up because his roommate was actually dating that Officer. He was afraid his roommate would be upset once he found out that he was having sex with the Officer. So before you start posting articles about sexual assaults, investigate the facts. Again, you’re the problem!!
Michael • Sep 15, 2020 at 9:12 pm
T. O’Shannon have you not been listening for years now? Is your head in the sand? You’re the exact case for who needs to hear this already. Get a couple q-tips out.
Victims are reluctant and often afraid to come forward. For so many reasons. Like, for one, people like you not believing a victim’s story. And, some of those same people are perpetrators in power. To reiterate, I’ve posted above links to a 2007 sexual assault on campus.
T. O’Shannon • Sep 11, 2020 at 7:32 pm
To those posting anonymously about being sexually assaulted by a TUPD Officer or by another student, my question to you is did you do anything about it? Did you file a report with student heath services if not with the police department? I’m guessing because of your less then pleasant comments you’ve made, you never actually reported it or sought any type of counseling for this very traumatic incident?! I find it highly unlikely that any of these situations happened. TUPD is under such a microscope by the university and by its leaders that things like this are highly unlikely and almost impossible. There are cameras EVERYWHERE on campus. Officers have body cameras not only attached to their person, but on their tasers. They have to justify their every action and you to just say they are running around rapping or sexually assaulting students is preposterous and downright stupid. TUPD officers are some of the most professional, caring and honest people working in law enforcement. They are the ONLY department that has continually worked through this entire pandemic and haven’t received so much as a thank you from University officials. I think it’s very dangerous to suggest that Tulane would be better off without a police department. Students are already an easy target from the filthy and garbage that walks New Orleans city streets. Imagine nobody to keep them at bay. You students wouldn’t last but a few days before you’d be running back to mommy and daddy’s side for your silver spoon. Bunch of spoiled uneducated brats!!!
Fike Mitts • Sep 9, 2020 at 10:09 am
Thinking that you can reasonably abolish the police force is the height of privilege and I find it sad and ironic that so many people who consider themselves to be progressive are showing up in support of the idea. Most of you grew up wealthy, in nice neighborhoods – in nice buildings is cities with doormen. You think that abolishing the police is feasible because you’ve never actually been exposed to the necessity of what police do in many areas. Do cops in America have a problem with racism and violence? Absolutely. But you can’t just get rid of the mechanism with which many (most?) of the laws and standards within our society are enforced. Let’s work on reform. Let’s work on DRASTIC reform. Abolishment? Your privilege is showing.
Anonymous • Sep 5, 2020 at 11:24 pm
To Andrew, above, who posed the question about serial rapists. TUPD won’t stop a serial rapist. Tulane University, in general, won’t. Don’t believe me? You don’t have to – you can look at the data from the climate survey. There are many known serial rapists at Tulane who don’t even get expelled, let alone face the strong, powerful arm of retributive justice that TUPD apparently has!!
So maybe some of the money and resources that we allocate to this (je ne sais quoi… ineffectual? useless?) department can actually be allocated where its useful. Counsellors, mental health support, community outreach, education for students on consent, etc. so that Tulane’s undergraduate women (and others who experience sexual violence at Tulane) can maybe find a way to navigate college. And maybe we can actually stop violence before it starts.
Anon • Sep 5, 2020 at 11:12 pm
Absolutely absurd that people in these comments keeping using sexual assault as a reason why TUPD should continue to be protected by administration. Almost 1 in 2 undergraduate women are assaulted at Tulane. If you look closer at demographics, the percentage jumps to over 50%. In other words, a woman at Tulane is basically more likely to be assaulted during her time in college than not.
As one of those women myself, I can promise you that TUPD does not protect victims of sexual assault. In many cases, they actually make it worse. (See other anonymous comment above) To use that as an example really displays how out of touch you are with the situation on the ground at Tulane. I encourage everyone whose immediate response to this article is spewing vitriol in the comment section of a Hullabaloo article to go to @abolishTUPD on instagram/twitter and read some stories from the students who have lived the experience. This is grounded in a much longer movement towards abolition, theory, etc. – its not just spoiled brats complaining, misunderstanding the world, etc. The “spoiled brats” of Tulane are much more likely to support the police than not – they’re the ones who are protected by the system in place.
V. Levski • Sep 5, 2020 at 9:50 pm
They might be taken at least a bit more seriously if any of the claims that they make about the Tulane University Police Department were based in fact, but clearly the truth is never the end game for a group like this. The idealistic fog of youth clouds reality until much later in life, a pity that so many waste so many hours on a fools errand instead of enjoying their time in school.
Beppy Snerdley • Sep 5, 2020 at 7:32 pm
This is 100% about abolishing capitalism and shoving communism down everyone’s throat. It has nothing to do with racism, police or protection. Wake up people!
Marc • Sep 5, 2020 at 1:44 am
THIS WAS POSTED EARLIER by a another posting AND THIS IS WHAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD UPHOLD WITHOUT A QUESTION
It’s my understanding that these students are all violating the current Tulane Student Code of Conduct for this semester because of the size of the gathering. They all agreed to abide by it when they returned to campus. I would hope that since these students ignored real-time verbal instructions, and the written agreement of the Code, that Tulane admin. would hold them accountable for their actions. To not do so sends the message that students AREN’T expected to keep the agreements they make.
Millenial class Of 2009 • Sep 5, 2020 at 12:22 am
I’ve always thought my generation, the millenials were the worst Ever. Thank you Gen Z For breaking that mold. You are going to ruin everything
Anonymous • Sep 4, 2020 at 8:57 pm
I have been sexually assaulted by a police officer. I have been sexually assaulted on campus and TUPD did nothing about it. As a survivor I really do not appreciate people up in these comments pretending to care about us when police aren’t just ineffective at stopping sexual crimes but also are the very people perpetuating them. If y’all actually cared about the safety of women on campus and protecting students from sexual assault then you would actually SUPPORT abolishing TUPD. I fully support abolition and reject the idea that any police protect vulnerable populations from sexual or gender based violence.
Michael • Sep 4, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Yeah dude here’s some info, some comes from this site:
https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane%3A99686#page/1/mode/2up
https://neworleansspin.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/tulane-police-officer-accused-of-raping-tulane-student/
https://dailyfreepress.com/2007/10/26/tulane-silent-on-alleged-assault-by-cop/
The silence in the aftermath was all we needed to hear to know that shit had gone down and y’all still won’t admit it.
FYI as we knew him, his name was Officer Gary
Yeah and of course I don’t know shit about how a taser works, I went to tulane so i didn’t learn shit but how to party.
Jason Coulter • Sep 4, 2020 at 5:02 pm
And yeah Officer Troy Jordan is an awesome awesome guy and my family and I miss him dearly. By the way he’s given 25 to 30 years of his life to that institution doing all he can to help those students out and keep y’all safe.
Jason Coulter • Sep 4, 2020 at 4:58 pm
So Michael, which officer would that be? Make an allegation, you damn well better have proof. By the way, tazers, unlike in B’s Hollywood movies, don’t make people pass out for hours, lose memory or anything of the sort. And ALL tazers that TUPD had when I was there from july 2008 until January 2016, had CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES that activate as soon as the taser is turned on. that footage is reviewed by the rank every time a taser is used to ensure that officers are doing their job properly. every time a taser is employed an officer has to write a use of force report, that I’ll be enough contains that audio and video footage attached to it. So you sure you want to put forth an allegation of a serious crime ( that would be considered aggravated rape under Louisiana revised statutes) where the supposed perpetrator used a device that would have recorded audio and video of the entire incident? It reeks of falsehoods and b******* and it kind of shows your ignorance of how that device actually works and makes me believe that you have zero credibility.
Amanda Mcbeth • Sep 4, 2020 at 12:02 pm
I am assuming this large gathering meets the definition of banned large gatherings resulting in immediate expulsion or does that only apply to white students?
Michael • Sep 4, 2020 at 11:03 am
Y’all remember that one TUPD cop who was pretty “chill” and would be like “you’re 17? Ok get drunk at the boot then. I’ll be watching to make sure the real cops don’t bust in”? Yeah well, one time he tasered some kid and then raped that kid. Yeah it happened.
Jimmy Griffin • Sep 4, 2020 at 10:13 am
As a former TUPD officer for 6 years never once did I see a Tulane police officer ever commit police brutality on a student or faculty and staff. However there has been many officers at TUPD sacrifice their own well being, the ability to walk normal again, time spent with their wife and children, to protect the spoiled and unappreciated young adults that attend Tulane and will continue to do so regardless of your feelings toward the police. The earlier comment stating you have to work for NOPD first before working for TUPD is a complete false statement!! I’ve never worked for NOPD before working for TUPD. I came straight to Tulane University in 2010 after completing the Louisiana Post Academy in October of 2009. I was treated like family from day one and field trained by the most experienced officers on the department such as Officer Troy Jordan. Officer Jordan and I remain very close friends to this day after my departure in 2016. Did I mention I’m white? Did I mention Officer Jordan is black? No I didn’t! Because it doesn’t matter!!! I consider him my family and always will! His own child calls me Uncle!! Pull your heads out from your rear ends and get to know your TUPD officers!! I can promise you that at any given time of day or night they are willing to sacrifice everything for you! Instead of trying to abolish the TUPD, get to know them, buy them a coffee or soda and talk to them like the young adults your supposed to be! Stop acting like a spoiled a** brats and grow up. Mommy and Daddy aren’t at Tulane with you to shelter you from the real world anymore, so now welcome to the real world and act like an adult!!!
Ryan • Sep 4, 2020 at 9:31 am
As a current Tulane student and local community member, I want to thank TUPD for their service in protecting our students. These protestors are so far out of touch with reality. (Generalization disclaimer) Tulane students can be extremely stupid and evidently can not handle their own safety. Starting with drugs, Tulane has a rampant drug problem that goes unaddressed. While many criticize TUPD for non-violent drug charges, the issue goes far beyond kids smoking weed in their room. Many students deal hard drugs on campus such as meth, heroin, acid, PCP, and other extremely dangerous substances. Tulane has had many students die on campus in incidents related to drug usage, yet they always cover it up and never address the problem. I have also heard of ignorant, naive students dealing drugs in the New Orleans area encountering gun violence and robberies. Bottom line, Tulane kids can be incredibly dumb, and they want to get rid of TUPD simply because TUPD holds them accountable for their own abhorrent behavior. As someone said in the comments above, alcohol is also a point of concern. Tulane kids whine about MIPS when they wouldn’t have gotten one in the first place if they simply drank without putting themselves or others in danger, whether that be fighting, running around naked, pissing everywhere, etc. Don’t complain about getting a MIP when all you had to do was not act like a complete moron. The only possible reason you could have a poor encounter with TUPD is if you are a danger to yourself or others, and at that point, you deserve to be held accountable for your actions.
Beyond alcohol and drugs, TUPD protects us from CRIME, yes crime; it actually exists, we live in New Orleans. People protesting TUPD are so out of touch with reality. Many bad people in this world prey on young, dumb, and weak college kids. If it weren’t for TUPD, Tulane students would be a dream come true to any criminal who wants to engage in armed robberies, sexual assaults, or physical violence. Why on earth are these protestors wanting to fund CAPS and defund TUPD? TUPD exists, so we don’t have to go to CAPS, so we don’t have to encounter trauma in the first place. And sure people cite well these things still happen even with TUPD. Sure they do, but the reason it is not much more prevalent is because TUPD serves as a sitting threat to those who want to infiltrate Tulane’s campus with crime. Without TUPD, you ignorant college kids would be getting robbed and assaulted left and right. Just the other day, a group of girls was assaulted by a man that only fled once they called TUPD, and they showed up.
It is really sad to see a police force that works so hard and puts their lives at stake to protect these morons, get treated so badly in return. I want them to know that there are Tulane students who appreciate their work and are grateful to have them serve. To these kids protesting TUPD, I hope you get out of your little fairy tale safe space bubble one day and encounter an actual threat. What are you going to do? You aren’t prepared; you’re a sitting duck to anyone who desires to prey on you. Who is going to come to your rescue? The same people you disrespected and mocked that still care for your safety at the end of the day.
Patrick ‘04 • Sep 4, 2020 at 9:29 am
Abolish police? How about abolish college? Tulane charges what, $55K per year, without considering room and board and fees? And for what? To indoctrinate your kids, our kids, in this totalitarian ideology? Not my kid. I would never, repeat never, send him to Tulane—my alma mater. The fools are the parents who pay in upwards of a quarter million dollars to send their kids to our modern American madrasas. Better to send him to trade school to learn honest skills and real work. Rather your boy be a master carpenter or some green haired dufus simpering about the latest #movement?
Marissa (class of '15) • Sep 4, 2020 at 5:30 am
The call to defund the police is a valid movement that this protest mocks. TUPD has not engaged in any form of police brutality, and does serve a valuable purpose on campus. You are better off directing your efforts at NOPD or other police departments that have actually engaged in police violence.
Horrified parent • Sep 3, 2020 at 9:27 pm
This is a terribly misguided demonstration. TUPD is crucial for the safety of the Tulane population and, as one who follows them on Instagram, they make an effort to position themselves as friendly and helpful. Please stop this insanity and appreciate the important role of the TUPD!
Stella Rosa • Sep 3, 2020 at 9:15 pm
“Stupid is as stupid does”.
Forest Gump
John I. Gilman • Sep 3, 2020 at 7:35 pm
Completely moronic idea !
Kerry Foley-Kessler • Sep 3, 2020 at 7:24 pm
As a Freeman ‘99 alumna, I would like to have specific examples of TUPD’s brutality towards students before calling for any such abolition. Just because there have been instances of police brutality in NOPD, I’d like to hear actual statistics on alleged police brutality with TUPD. I’d also like to know how this peaceful protest of > 100 people was in compliance with School Policy and City Department of Health Policy given our pandemic. Students have the right to protest but they also have the responsibility to do so within the guidelines established for the prevention of Covid-19 spread. To whom much is given, much is expected. Don’t bring the TU administration your problems, bring them solutions. If you can’t offer concrete examples of the problems on campus while also offering real solutions, you/your parents are wasting A LOT of $$$$ at TU.
Alexander Siebert • Sep 3, 2020 at 6:50 pm
The most common finding in the academic literature that uses statistical analysis to estimate discrimination in police use of force is that blacks are no more likely to be shot by police than whites, this is also the most robust finding. The second most common finding is that whites are more likely to be shot than blacks; whereas the least common and least robust finding is that blacks are more likely to be shot than whites. All of this is to say that, the absolute best evidence that we have on the issue of racial bias in policing fails to support the narrative that police officers are horrible racist people. The notion that police departments should be abolished anywhere on grounds of racism is complete and utter nonsense.
Police officers are human beings, people who are well aware of the decades-long narrative that they are horrible racist people. To think that an officer would rather exercise some allegedly deep-seated desire to hurt another human being just because of their skin color, rather than follow their training and avoid becoming public enemy number one, is idiotic. While seeing an officer excise force may make people uncomfortable, particularly if it’s being exercised against someone who is black, officers are trained when and how to use force from a long history of policing experience that has shown when failure to use force has resulted in severe injury and death for officers. In general, officers follow their training well. This is why investigations by the courts typically result in the acquittal of officers who are accused of racial bias in their use of force (not because lawyers, judges, and juries are also horrible racist people; there is no shortage of cases involving black officers killing whites, sometimes even children, who are acquitted for the same reasons, these cases just aren’t worthy of the media’s attention).
The withdrawal of police in other areas of the country has led to predictable increases in violence in those areas; and the vast majority of that increase in violence is black-on-black violence. To think that black lives don’t matter to the police is beyond ridiculous. Police officers put their lives in danger on a daily basis to protect others, regardless of race, and have a substantial impact on the safety of black communities. To carry around the notion that officers are racist simply because of their uniform is not only the exact logical fallacy of racism, but completely and utterly shameful given the sacrifices that these officers make on a daily basis for the safety of others.
The TUPD should be celebrated, thanked, and strengthened. They are one of Tulane’s many great assets.
Andrew • Sep 3, 2020 at 6:46 pm
A couple of questions for those who want to abolish the police and prisons: Who will stop a serial rapist from raping many women? What will happen when someone who wants to commit a crime realizes there is no longer a police force at Tulane? When there are no prisons, will you free Derek Chauvin, who murdered George Floyd? What will you do with Dylan Roof, who murdered 9 African-Americans at a church in Charleston?
I urge all of the privileged white liberals to listen to African-Americans, who overwhelmingly do NOT want to abolish the police or prisons. A recent Gallup poll of African-Americans showed that 81% wanted the police presence in their community to INCREASE OR STAY THE SAME.
Jason Coulter • Sep 3, 2020 at 4:56 pm
Oh and for Mr tweedy’s comment above the former RA. I wonder if you were at Tulane when Sergeant Gill Mast was ran over and killed by a drunk Tulane student on McAllister way right by Willow St. That’s why the squad room is named the Gill Mast squad room. He was killed in line of duty by a student. interestingly enough that same student got six months of probation for killing someone and trying to cover it up by taking his car to his fraternity to try to get the damage and the blood cleaned off of it. Officer Loomis was shot by a bicycle thief on campus in the parking lot area behind wall residential college. officer Bobby McGee broke ribs and pour up his knee trying to stop an armed robbery suspect on Calhoun Street who had just robbed a student down on Calhoun and Freret. But sure Mr former RA Tulane University Police department is the problem, not the violent criminal element in New Orleans that commits over 170 homicides a year, shoved guns in the faces of people walking home from the bars at night around campus on Hillary andMaple streets and Snake and Jake’s on Adams. furthermore my wife and I also volunteered to teach women’s rape aggression defense classes for any female student, faculty or staff on that campus, as a way to teach them awareness and how to be safe, to fend off and escape from an attacker. we even found ways to pay the very minor fee of $25 so that the student wouldn’t have to, and they could take that class anywhere it was taught in this entire country for free for the rest of their lives. We hardly ever got participation because most of those kids who are all so concerned about their safety would rather spend their weekends getting s***-faced at the boot. So yeah I’m not agreeing with your assessment and having dealt with many of the RAS at Tulane I wasn’t too impressed by most of them. Remember we didn’t show up in those dorm rooms without someone calling us in the first place and generally it was the RAs that called.
Samuel Carroll • Sep 3, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Some of these comments are ignorant as to how a police presence would affect any given incident. Just because they are available and arrive doesn’t mean they will ameliorate a situation. We have seen black citizens call on their local PDs for help only to be shot down for existing in a context that the police can leverage as justification for murder — that’s kind of the point!
Jason Coulter • Sep 3, 2020 at 4:36 pm
first and foremost what’s get rid of that b******* about needing to be employed by the New Orleans Police department prior to working at Tulane that is a false statement. we had people who that was their first police job. We had others who were veterans of many other departments, jpso, New Orleans Police department, St Bernard and St Tammany parish sheriff’s offices, Louisiana State Police. We had former federal agents that worked there as well. Very well trained very professional.I used to be an Officer with TUPD. I was shot at working for TUPD in April of 2011 trying to protect students. I left because the students were not supportive of our efforts. I put myself in harm’s way for you all for over 7 years, at night, on 12 hour shifts, in that damn oppressive heat, away from my wife and kids. As did so many of my colleagues. We got paid crap wages, had some really awful leadership (Barnewll, Potts, Goodrow, LeBlanc) during most of my time there, but we showed up, did our.duty to protect you all, students, faculty, and staff. We also provided safety to the neighborhood with active patrols off campus at night. I think the main reason why most of these kids are complaining about TUPD is because they don’t like getting busted at parties, being transported by TEMS for being s***-faced drunk underage and passed out in the bushes, pissing all over campus and other people’s property and in the stairwells and hallways of the dorms, F***ING on the rooftops of Stern and the Israel building, selling dope to each other on campus and I don’t mean weed, I’m talking about the a****** we caught with a bunch of heroin in the bottom of freaking fake shaving cream cans either in Irby or Phelps. I don’t remember which one because we had to go to those freaking dorms all the time for stupid crap like that , while we needed to be looking for the armed robbers that were praying on you supposed adults who act more like spoiled overly entitled obnoxious children. I hated leaving that career because I felt a sense of duty to protect all of you even though we got mostly s*** on by most of the freaking kids that we dealt with. the majority of that department from my personal experience working with them are highly dedicated highly professional and really give a damn about their job and their role in protecting you all. try to show them some respect for once since they’re putting themselves in harm’s way to keep your asses safe. that is despite all of the dumb dangerous situations that you continually put yourselves into on a regular basis. And for those of you who don’t believe me about being shot at here’s the news article https://uptownmessenger.com/2011/03/nopd-palmer-street-robbery-suspect-who-shot-at-tulane-police-arrested/
If you disband Tulane University Police department your first line of protection will be gone. speaking from the seven plus years of experience I had there, there were days when New Orleans Police department only had one rank and one officer on the street to protect you, while we had a minimum of seven on campus and at times four to eight off campus at night counting assigned detail officers. that is more than most New Orleans Police department districts put on the street at one time. But go ahead, disband the department. Never mind that you will be putting over a hundred people out of work and taking food off the table for their families because you don’t know what you’re talking about, yet again. use the intelligence that you obviously have to have gotten into that institution, to make a more educated, sound, well thought-out intelligent decision.
John • Sep 3, 2020 at 3:47 pm
So, in what instances has TUPD not put the safety white students over that of non whites? There must be instances or there would be no protest. Please give a list.
Baffled Alum • Sep 3, 2020 at 3:02 pm
I love that top shelf censorship Hullabaloo. You know what’s best. Great job!
Baffled Alum • Sep 3, 2020 at 2:52 pm
These starry-eyed idiots don’t fully appreciate the gravity of where they live.
C. Tweedie • Sep 3, 2020 at 1:51 pm
I’m seeing a lot of not-in-my-backyard-ism in these comments, a lot of “I understand, but…”
There are no conditionals in disassembling a system whose purpose and dedicated mission is to privilege white students’ safety over the safety of Black students, of other students of color AND of nonwhite community members in this area. As with all police forces, TUPD poses more danger to students than it does harm prevention. During my year as an RA on Tulane’s campus, I saw an arrest carried out for nonviolent drug possession; I encountered multiple students who felt unsafe because of other students (stalking, fears of assault, etc.) but were afraid to reach out beyond the RA level because of the lack of other public safety measures; I have seen the FEAR enacted by TUPD as their most effective tool of “keeping Tulane’s spaces safe.” It needs to STOP.
Rather than asking “Who will protect us if they remove the TUPD?” consider the question “Who is TUPD actually protecting?”
As to Mr. Edwards’ and others’ comments about supposed “women’s safety” issues on campus, I would contend that while I know several women and non-binary students who have experienced sexual and other forms of assault on-and-off campus, I do not know a single one who would rather deal with a police officer than with a counsellor of some kind. Tulane’s police budget could be allocated to other safety measures, including bolstering the always-underfunded CAPS program, case management services, etc.
Let’s not delve into red herrings and immediate shutdowns. Again, as with the larger movement of defunding and abolition, reducing militant police forces does not leave a total vacuum of public safety. Read some anti-racist literature. Actually listen to those affected by this violent presence every day. Abolish the police.
C. Tweedie • Sep 3, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I’m seeing a lot of not-in-my-backyard-ism in these comments, a lot of “I understand, but…”
There are no conditionals in disassembling a system whose purpose and dedicated mission is to privilege white students’ safety over the safety of Black students, of other students of color AND of nonwhite community members in this area. As with all police forces, TUPD poses more danger to students than it does harm prevention. During my year as an RA on Tulane’s campus, I saw an arrest carried out for nonviolent drug possession; I encountered multiple students who felt unsafe because of other students (stalking, fears of assault, etc.) but were afraid to reach out beyond the RA level because of the lack of other public safety measures; I have seen the FEAR enacted by TUPD as their most effective tool of “keeping Tulane’s spaces safe.” It needs to STOP.
Rather than asking “Who will protect us if they remove the TUPD?” consider the question “Who is TUPD actually protecting?”
As to Mr. Edwards’ comment about supposed “women’s safety” issues on campus, I would contend that while I know several women and non-binary students who have experienced sexual and other forms of assault on-and-off campus, I do not know a single one who would rather deal with a police officer than with a counsellor of some kind. Tulane’s police budget could be allocated to other safety measures, including bolstering the always-underfunded CAPS program, case management services, etc.
Let’s not delve into red herrings and immediate shutdowns. Again, as with the larger movement of defunding and abolition, reducing militant police forces does not leave a total vacuum of public safety. Read some anti-racist literature. Actually listen to those affected by this violent presence every day. Abolish the police.
jack ellsley a&s 67 • Sep 3, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Yep I guess old Joe Schumpeter was correct! lol
Judith Hendlish • Sep 3, 2020 at 1:02 pm
No whole group Of any profession is perfect. TUPD is for the most part excellent and support student safety. If there are officers on the force that are inappropriate they should be fired individually. Abolishing the entire force will put the students in danger. It would also put a wonderful group of hard workers out of work. Not a very smart idea. When various people in the medical world or entertainment industry were found to be guilty of crimes and inappropriate behavior hospitals did not close and the movie industry did not shut down.
Leslie • Sep 3, 2020 at 12:25 pm
It’s my understanding that these students are all violating the current Tulane Student Code of Conduct for this semester because of the size of the gathering. They all agreed to abide by it when they returned to campus. I would hope that since these students ignored real-time verbal instructions, and the written agreement of the Code, that Tulane admin. would hold them accountable for their actions. To not do so sends the message that students AREN’T expected to keep the agreements they make.
Burt Benoliel (BA, 87) • Sep 3, 2020 at 12:19 pm
When I hit the blue light button, who comes to my rescue?
When I call 911, who comes to my rescue?
If my friends are in class, at a party or passed out…and I need someone to come to my rescue, exactly who is it? 24×7?
Greg Barr • Sep 3, 2020 at 11:24 am
I would not even consider abolishing TUPD. They comprise a safety net to keep our students safe in and around school. While is believe in freedom or speech and actions. I feel it should be focused on matter that could cause harm to students. This is not one of them. As an alum and a father , I have had dealings with TUPD and only wished they had been there when I was an undergrad.
Jennifer • Sep 3, 2020 at 11:04 am
Who will protect us if they remove the TUPD? Just the other day we received an email from them notifying us of two serious incidents involving young female students being followed and one of them being grabbed obscenely. The support of TUPD to NOPD is very important. I am sorry but I don’t understand this complete objection to having safety and security removed from campus. I attend an evening class downtown and leave late at night. It’s important to me to have this police presence.
Gloria Perich • Sep 3, 2020 at 10:27 am
While I believe it’s import to acknowledge movements that give individuals the opportunity to display and exercise their rights, this types of movement in our school has no grounds for reasoning. I don’t live on campus grounds, but I appreciate police presence at school. For the past 3 years at school I have spent long days and evenings at the library and I have always felt safe on campus due to the safety measures in place. I hope this mentality decimates, our schools and students need police presence, to keep outsiders out, and order within. New Orleans is one of the most dangerous cities in the nation, and while it’s neighborhoods in it’s majority are nice, not too far from campus are dangerous areas filled with questionable behavior. I hope to see follow up articles mentioning the importance and protection police departments have provided the student population at Tulane.
Arnold Ferguson • Sep 3, 2020 at 10:22 am
I agree that Tulane has the right to abolish their independent police force and put their students at increased risk.
I, also, have the right to consider their actions in whether I will continue to support Tulane with financial contributions. I do not support abolishing the TUPD.
Arnold Ferguson
E’71, SPH&TM’00
Sean Edwards • Sep 3, 2020 at 10:18 am
What an immature and dangerous idea. What would one of these young women do if they were attacked on or near campus? Call their roommate? If Tulane abolishes the police, parents will withdraw their children in droves.