Students use police forum to address melee at event

Students took advantage of an open meeting with University Police administrators to voice concerns about how officers handled a sorority event that got out of control earlier this month.

Police used the meeting at Harrison College House last night to publicize tactics the Division of Public Safety is implementing in the wake of a recent uptick in crime.

But many students were more interested in the aftermath of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority's Big Man on Campus event.

Police arrested two Penn students outside World Cafe Live on Nov. 3, and many in the crowd claimed that officers -- including those from the Philadelphia Police Department -- used excessive force against students.

Penn Police have started an investigation into the event, but there has been no University-wide inquiry.

College senior Christine Stypula said that she wants to find out exactly what happened.

"I think that the [Division] of Public Safety is something very different than what I thought it was," she said. "Because [Vice President for Public Safety] Maureen Rush used to be a police officer, I'm worried that she might be more interested in protecting the integrity and reputation of the police instead of finding out what happened [at BMOC]."

College senior Andrea Scott agreed.

"I'm looking for some type of accountability," she said.

Police officials did not mention the sorority event during the presentation portion of the meeting, but a question-and-answer session gave the audience an opportunity to raise the issue.

Penn Police Chief Mark Dorsey said police encourage students who have concerns about the event to contact public safety, as the self-investigation is ongoing.

Rush began the evening by acknowledging that the division has faced several significant challenges in the past several months.

"Crime is a cycle and that cycle is coming up right now," she said.

There were four violent robberies on or near campus last weekend.

Because the latest attacks targeted victims who were walking alone, much of the town hall meeting focused on services such as walking escorts that can help improve personal safety.

"Safety is a shared responsibility," Rush said, alluding to the DPS mantra.

Students can help police to curb crime, she said, by taking simple, common-sense precautions.

Dorsey said he and other police officials are committed to improving safety.

"We want community members to be able to come out and enjoy this great city and great neighborhood," he said.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.