Students are getting a chance to point and click their way to the MSU police.
The Web site created for the Task Force on Student-Police Relations, www.taskforce.msu.edu, features a forum for discussion about student and police issues, as well as an area to e-mail ideas, suggestions or complaints to administrators.
“You can see that there’s two ways you can make your voice heard,” said Deb Pozega Osburn, director of Media Communications. “This is an initiative the students asked the university to move forward on, so I’m sure people have a lot of opinions.”
Administrators hope the site will give students more information about the task force and its progress.
Hospitality business junior Stephanie Bosma said although she hasn’t been following the task force’s actions, a public forum for student opinions could be useful.
“I think (the site) would be good for organizations and things,” Bosma said. “When you go outside on a Friday night, there are police everywhere. It’s intimidating even if you’re not doing anything wrong. You think they’re going to stop you anyway.”
The task force was appointed following an independent investigation into the placement of an undercover officer into United Students Against Sweatshops, now called Students for Economic Justice, beginning Feb. 19, 2000.
A public forum will also be sponsored Oct. 2 to give students a chance to voice their opinions to the 30-member task force.
“I mostly hang out with activist kids, and we’ve got more ideas than we can handle,” said Lansing Community College sophomore Heather Buckley, a member of Students for Economic Justice. “I wouldn’t expect (the site) to be that useful of a tool, but maybe it will work out. I think it’s worth a try.”
Since the task force’s first meeting Sept. 7, the members have been split into three focus groups.
One group will deal with education, communication and outreach, while another will work on the special concerns of racial, ethnic and progressive students. The third will focus on the intersection of health, safety and privacy with security and enforcement.
Matt Clayson, Academic Assembly chairperson for ASMSU, said the focus groups were given relatively vague tasks that allow for more freedom.
“Hopefully this will strengthen student rights on campus,” said the undergraduate student government official. “It not only makes sure students are aware of their rights, but that they’re protected and enforced. Our rights aren’t protected or enforced at this time.
“With this, we can define our rights so we won’t have another problem.”
MSU President M. Peter McPherson said the task force is picking up momentum after being established within one week of the recommendation to create it.
“I think we’ve gotten off to a fairly fast pace,” he said. “I want this to be a serious and thoughtful committee.
“There will be more ideas yet.”
