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I write to applaud the efforts of the Student Unity Network in forging a quick response to the incident of police brutality against a Wesleyan student at an off-campus party on Oct. 8. Last Sunday’s rally against policy brutality highlights the continuing problem of racism within police departments, racism that is institutionalized in police training and in racial profiling. African-American men in the United States continue to be stigmatized by police as potential criminals, assumed guilty rather than presumed innocent.

The growing movement in recent months to outlaw the practice of racial profiling in an important step but it will not root out the racial stereotypes and attitudes that are so deeply entrenched in our criminal justice system. The reform demands of the student organizers are reasonable, and SUN is right to seek to incorporate Middletown youth and community
organizations into their protests. They should also seek, and receive, the support of the Wesleyan administration and faculty. When Middletown police harass Wesleyan students, it is not just a student issue but a community concern.

Renee Romano

Assistant Professor of History and African-American Studies

To the Wesleyan Community:

Will someone please turn down the freezers in Weshop, the ice cream is so hard, it always bends my spoons. And they are metal spoons too. Seriously.

Seriously yours,

J. Bajir Cannon ’02