Public Safety has had an interesting year at best. First alleged racial profiling during homecoming weekend, then allegations of Public Safety assaulting a Wesleyan student, and in January, an officer was fired for allegedly stealing equipment from faculty offices. This was followed by today’s email (see below) in which two Public Safety officers were involved in viewing and possibly video recording a female student in her residence. The two offending officers have since been fired. According to an email from Dean Mike Whaley, Wesleyan “is cooperating with Middletown police in an ongoing investigation.”
Following last semester’s forum, President Roth ’78 had an independent review look into Public Safety’s current practices and relationship with the University. Tonight, from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Daniel Family Commons (third floor of Usdan), you can attend an open student session and meet with the representatives of the independent company conducting the review, Margolis Healy. It’s some pretty strikingly appropriate timing, considering today’s email report.
Watch a student-produced documentary about recent tensions involving Public Safety here.
Date: Tuesday, April 30 (today)
Time: 7:00-8:00pm
Place: Daniel Family Commons
Cost: Free
Read past the jump for the full email.
To the Wesleyan Community:
Wesleyan has recently received a report of alleged illicit activity on the part of two of its Public Safety officers. This behavior involved the surreptitious viewing and possibly the video recording of a female student in her residence. The violation of a student’s private life by those charged with protecting our students is an intolerable breach of trust. Wesleyan immediately terminated both officers and is cooperating with Middletown police in an ongoing investigation. Police and staff from Student Affairs have been in contact with the victim and are offering support.
We are all distressed by this shocking incident. Please remember that there are resources in both our offices should you wish to talk about this further and information online at http://www.wesleyan.edu/healthservices/sexualassault/.
Michael Whaley
Vice President for Student AffairsSonia Mañjon
Vice President for Institutional Partnerships and Chief Diversity Officer
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Maybe all the turnover will serve as an opportunity to build a non-racist, non-abusive corps of officers, and to build a culture that cares about actually keeping students safe, rather than getting them in trouble.
how many P-Safe officers do we have? crazy personnel turnover right now
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