More students claim unfair experiences with U. Police

While both University Police officials and leaders in the minority community alike agree that they made headway in Tuesday night's meeting concerning the questioned stop of a Penn student, more students have come forward with their own stories about getting stopped unnecessarily by police.

Tuesday's meeting was held in response to College senior Dimitri Dube's allegations that he had been unfairly targeted by Penn Police while out walking on Saturday evening. Dube has claimed that Penn Police stopped him on his way home from the 7-Eleven at 42nd and Walnut streets but let him go when they discovered that he was a Penn Student.

In an e-mail sent to various student groups and addressed to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush and other University officials, Dube outlined from his point of view the details of what occurred early Saturday morning.

In the ensuing days, Penn Police launched an investigation into the incident, which is still underway, and that police officials say should be complete soon.

For over two hours Tuesday evening, Rush, Chief of Police Thomas Rambo, Deputy Chief of Investigations William Danks and a University Police lieutenant met with about 20 student leaders from various minority groups.

"Last night was a really good first start to some of the bridge-building that we will have to do," Rush said. "I think it was a mutual feeling when we walked out of the room that the police department is looking forward to reaching out and working with the various coalitions."

Student leaders remarked on the meeting's productivity, with many saying that it was the first time in their years at Penn that this issue had been so openly addressed.

"There were definitely times when there were disagreements and misunderstandings," said College junior Shaun Gonzales, political action chairman for the United Minorities Council. "But I came out of the meeting with a very optimistic view. Overall, it was a very collaborative effort."

But even as discussions proceed smoothly, concerned students are sending their own testimonials to Dube, thanking him for giving their concerns a voice and relating similar incidents that occurred either earlier this year or, in some cases, several years ago.

After hearing about Dube's allegations and Tuesday's meeting, Wharton freshman Marcus Thomas sent a similar e-mail to both Dube and Rush detailing an interaction he says he had with Penn Police last semester, hoping to reinforce Dube's perception that his was not an isolated incident.

"Things like this happen on Penn's campus," Thomas said in an interview. "It is especially prevalent among black males and it is something that needs to be addressed in an open forum, and I am glad steps are being made to do that."

Police officials have said that they are looking into other reported incidents. Notwithstanding new allegations, though, there were many resolutions reached during Tuesday's meeting.

In the coming weeks, Penn Police and Department of Public Safety officials will be invited to attend the larger minority student coalition meetings. Select students and police officers will also meet in smaller groups.

A police/minority community relations forum has been tentatively scheduled for early February.

Both public safety officials and students hope that the forum could become an annual event used to convey useful information about the fluid relationship between police and minority students, as well as a place for students to voice their concerns to a larger audience.

Dube and other student leaders remain adamant about one goal that was not fully resolved in the meeting -- the necessity of a review board for incidents like Dube's, which they hope would be composed of individuals unaffiliated with the Penn Police.

"It allows people with a wide variety of perspectives to evaluate the actions of police and/or the student involved in the particular situation," Dube said.

Prior to yesterday's meeting, Dube had stated that his individual incident was only a small symptom of a larger problem in the Penn Police department and that he hoped to use what he said happened to him to begin discussion about possible remedies.

"I think the best part of the meeting is that we will now have a forum to deal specifically with the people of color community and the police and how those two different entities perceive each other," Dube said. "Hopefully this forum will get people more educated on what to do and will bring the problem to [the] eyes of the Penn Police."

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