Police actions kill students' buzz

By Chris Kelly

Two weeks ago, sophomore Ryan Alders was walking from his on-campus residence to his friend's apartment, carrying an infamous red Solo cup. While crossing at a designated Bellomy street crosswalk, a police officer flashed his lights and said, "Do not drop that f------ cup. Don't you dare drop that f------ cup!" Following the officer's demands, Alders approached the window of the vehicle. The cup's liquid was clear and Alders told the officer that, "It's just water." The officer proceeded to smell the liquid. He concluded that it was, in fact, water. Unsatisfied, the officer accused Alders of having dilated pupils. When Alders explained that he had never smoked marijuana, the officer drove away.

The incident had attracted two other police vehicles that stopped to see if the incident needed backup. When I interviewed Alders about the incident, he said, "I wish that those officers could have been doing something more constructive, like catching the people who broke into my friend Tommy's house and stole all of his valuables. I don't feel as if they (police) are on my side, in fact, I feel quite the opposite. He (the officer) also asked me why I had been drinking water from a red cup. I feel like I shouldn't have to answer such a stupid question."

There is no question that the Santa Clara community has pleaded for the police department to keep our streets sane. But lately, the lines between protection and discrimination have become blurry, and there is no clear-eyed member of the community that can rationalize the events that have unfolded over the past two weeks.

Many students living off campus have been complaining about increased fines for noise complaints related to social events. Starting this year, fines are no longer assigned to houses, but to individuals within the house. In order to receive a fine, individuals do not need to be present. One particular incident has produced much debate and has even required legal representation. On Sept. 27, five houses located on the same block received fines for one specific action that happened at just one of the five houses. In other words, every individual of every house was fined, even if that individual was studying abroad, for an activity that was committed by one non-affiliate on one of the five properties.

Were the fines warranted? It is hard to argue, knowing that the house in which the action occurred debunked the police statement and had their fines dramatically reduced.

The most disconcerting incident of the year happened early Friday morning, across the street from the Dunne residence hall. After chasing down an intoxicated student, police officers handcuffed the student and pinned him to the ground. Once he was contained, one of the officers delivered a devastating blow to the student's right eye that would eventually land the young adult in the hospital. Several people who lived in close proximity saw the event take place. One of the witnesses, who asked not to be named, crossed the street following the incident. Without saying a word or confronting an officer, he was asked if he had been drinking. After saying "Yes, but I am 21," he was thrown into a squad car along with another witness. The arrest was not based on his actions or behaviors, but on his being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Other witnesses interviewed felt that the police action was an act of excessive violence. I previously chose to think that the police did what they had to do to take control of the situation.

That was until I interviewed the arrested victim the following morning after his long night in the hospital and Santa Clara Country Correctional Facility. His face was swollen, his lips cut, his hair crusty with blood and his elbows and ribs were the color of dark burgundy, a color Broncos normally represent with pride. The victim, after a long week of answering questions posed by friends and the university, asked not to be named or quoted.

It is understandable that the SCPD is attempting to teach young adults important life lessons about the law. But there are plenty of university communities that have successfully done so without distracting students with financial, physical and, more importantly, legal troubles.

There is no need to enact a policy like that of the Claremont Colleges, which regulates college parties by purchasing alcohol for their students to drink on campus í-- yes, they pay for their students to drink -- but there must be a more effective way to allow students to participate in the same kind of social activities that are seen across the nation without being threatened by life-changing encounters with the law. Our community is creating an unhealthy relationship between authority figure and citizen. Skies are dark; work must be done if we are to see a peaceful solution on the horizon.

Chris Kelly is a senior English major.