Last week, the campus witnessed police brutality. Even after I wrote a piece about my safety concerns as a Black woman, no one seems to care. President Casey's email, sent Sunday at 8:01 p.m., promises three things: 1) “to review the activities of last Wednesday to ensure that the University and the City are prepared to protect members of our community both this week and in the future” 2) “to immediately allocate dollars to provide an upgrade to our campus security cameras and related equipment” and 3) to direct “Vice President Christopher Wells to lead efforts to ensure that our community is prepared in the event that the demonstrators return on Wednesday.” His email said nothing concerning the protection of Black staff and students on our campus, who are at high risk of experiencing police brutality in an event of another protest.
The slamming of the two Black men for protesting, followed by President Casey’s response, boldly exemplifies why I support #BlackLivesMatter instead of #AllLivesMatter. The steps that Casey plans to take cater to the concerns of the majority of campus. #TheMajorityIsWhite on DePauw’s Campus; therefore, it is quite obvious that white lives matter. It is completely irresponsible for our president to dismiss this national issue. Now, I wonder how the university and city are preparing “to protect the member of our community,” because if protection means more policemen will be visible, than I am afraid to even walk to class. I am in total fear that I might be the next Black student that looks like a threat and is slammed onto hard concrete.
DePauw, as a private institution, is obviously able to create and execute its own bylaws. We see this everyday as minors are consistently reported for alcohol poisoning without misdemeanors filed against them. So, if one is wondering what President Casey can do for the Black community, the first step is to create bylaws that protects all members of DePauw’s community from being “pinned down” or “slammed” by police officers for simply “looking like a threat.” In the case that bylaws are broken, it would be helpful if our president responds immediately, in a serious manner, instead of saying “it is what it is.” A president that really cares about every single student and prides his university on diversity will do everything in his power to address police brutality—the bigger issue—rather than make prevention policies his first priority. President Casey has the power to do small things, such as ensuring only campus officers can engage with his students while on campus to make it easier to identify each officer. If only campus officers are engaging with students, he could then replace officers who decide to assault any member apart of DePauw’s community.
I am disappointed by the fact that our president did not send out an email stating: the police brutality that occurred last Wednesday is under investigation. Police brutality is real and while we may not be able to immediately end it in America, we can end it on our campus. Black students should not have to settle for small victories such as “at least the black men did not get shot like Mike Brown.” If the tables were turned and the white woman, who threw hot coffee at the crowd of protesters, was “pinned down,” I sincerely believe that DePauw would be in the process of pressing charges against the police department. If the tables were turned, then just maybe the Black community would be protected. This is why I truly believe #BlackLivesDoNotMatter in America or on DePauw’s Campus.
-Jones is a senior English writing and women's studies major from St. Louis, Missouri.
