Posted on 02/01/2012 4:46:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BERKELEY -- Why in the world does the University of California employ an armed police force on its campuses?
That question, and the anger implied in its wording, was asked repeatedly Wednesday night by UC Berkeley students and faculty of top UC brass. Berkeley was a whistlestop on their tour of campuses before they prepare UC's official response to the use of batons and pepper-spray against peaceful protesters last November.
...
Everyone sat in concentric circles waiting for the chance to influence recommendations being prepared on behalf of the university system by Charles Robinson, UC's general counsel, and Chris Edley, dean of the UC Berkeley Law School.
Reports in the works
Their report, due in March, is one of three forthcoming from UC to publicly address what is widely perceived as excessive, even brutal responses to students' acts of civil disobedience against rising tuition and rising executive pay at a time of deep cuts to higher education.
...
Robinson and Edley said their report won't be investigative like the others. Instead they are visiting campuses, listening to students and faculty, ..
Perhaps the most-applauded suggestion Wednesday night came from Anant Sahai, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, who said campuses should call on trained mediators instead of police during tense student protests.
"Students want to be engaged in a sincere, substantive dialogue," Sahai said into the microphone. "The role of the mediators should be to facilitate this conversation."
"Great idea," Edley said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That would be because you are prey animals and Oakland is next door.
When I was attending UC Berkeley (20 years ago), a young man was raped by a homeless, stoned, crazy person in the Law School. I think the armed cops are a necessity.
Oh, yes. I am being raped by a drugged out campus protester and I want a trained conflict facilitator to handle the negotiation instead of an armed cop. Oh, yes I do. Really. sarc/off
My response to that question would have been, “The reason why they are armed is that you would be asking why they weren’t armed, if somebody who is armed were to come on campus and start murdering people.”
How is it that a person, qualified to go to a post-secondary institution, cannot foresee the possible consequences of their actions?
LOL, of course it's a "great idea." You really think he's going to say anything else? This is politically correct warfare - they ain't going to be no disagreements. Just smile, nod, smile, nod, smile, nod, smile, nod... like a croc doing a death roll.
And, I was attending Berkeley 50+ years ago. The police were feared, but respected. Feared because somebody in the crowd might have alcohol, but respected because we knew the police were there for our protection. Then the hippies poured in from NY and Chicago and upset the applecart. It’s never been the same since, and it’s never had the same high academic standing either.
The most singularly stupid thing I've heard today. This batch of sheep deserve everything they get.
The real answer is found next door in Oakland.....
Given how stupid and evil cops are these days and how unaccountable management is for them when they abuse power, I think it is time to discuss removing non-leathal weapons and swat teams from the mix.
riots, destruction of property, breaking and entering, blocking access to buildings... this is called peaceful. lol.
Because, geniuses, a significant percentage of the professional students, with useless majors, have the character, morals and ethics indistinguishable from the typical rap fan or homeboy, and a corresponding respect for life.
Because there are a few scum bags amoung the rest of you limp-wristed, pear shaped girly-boys who will kick your @$$ and take your lunch money.....and mommy is not here to defend you.
“Why in the world does the University of California employ an armed police force on its campuses?”
I suspect because even the police there have to step off campus once in a while...
The cops are armed just in case a criminal does not stop when the cops just offer him a doughnut. If it's a violent criminal, a slow response to the facilitator's dialogue could be unfortunate.
Finally, a lucid response.
Two words: "Virginia Tech."
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