Officers Raise Awareness

By Mallory Miller

This past Thursday, police officers offered advice and gave suggestions to students on campus.

The Associated Student Government's Community Development branch and the Senate Current University Issues committee put on an event for students: Lunch with the Police.

Two Santa Clara police officers, Sgt. Jerry Rodriguez and Santa Clara Alumnus Officer Tyson Green, came to the event to answer any questions students had regarding off-campus issues, including off-campus partying, what to do, and who to call in certain situations.

Lunch with the Police has been held in previous years, but this year the turn-out was stillextremely successful. Around 100-120 students attended the open discussion and came with specific questions to ask the officers. Troy Perry, a senior who has been a member of the off-campus community for the past couple of years, is an ASG senator who helped organize the event.

"I know where both students and community members are coming from when it comes to partying and respecting the neighborhood," said Perry. "Our goal in holding Lunch with the Police was to help create an understanding between the students, police officers and the immediate community of the Santa Clara neighborhood."

At the event, the officers explained why shifts in disciplinary action have taken place in the past year. They said that it isn't necessarily the police force cracking down, but the local members of the community who have reached a "breaking point."

The officers said, "the levels of noise and trash left in the street from partiers are disturbing those who live in the neighborhood and those who are trying to be productive members of society."

There has been an increase of calls and complaints over the past year, so the officers are obligated to take action.

The officers recommended students try and keep their parties more exclusive, and to have kids show their Santa Clara access cards at the door to help filter out nonaffiliates trying to get into Santa Clara parties. This will help keep the the students and community safer.

In past years, Lunch with the Police has only been held annually, but ASG plans on holding multiple forums with the police this year to continue to guide students and provide them with the opportunity to have any confusion regarding off-campus issues resolved.

Contact Mallory Miller at memiller@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849.