While the Task Force on Student-Police Relations made a number of worthy recommendations in its final report, the group missed the chance to comment on a critical point.
They failed to address the incident which led to the task force’s formation in the first place - the infiltration of an undercover officer into the student group United Students Against Sweatshops, now Students for Economic Justice.
Friday’s release of the task force’s recommendations marked the final meeting of the group that was appointed by university officials in September to investigate the infiltration ordered by MSU police Chief Bruce Benson and approved by MSU President M. Peter McPherson.
The recommendations include the formation of a student events committee to determine security needs for student events, guidelines for when police may videotape events and suggest police not record events such as tailgates and political speeches.
It also was suggested that student groups meet annually with the Department of Police and Public Safety, police continue multicultural awareness training and the department expand its Ride-A-Long programs to offer opportunities to more students.
The group also recommended police attend sensitivity training sessions in addition to their multicultural program to better equip them to work with racial and progressive students.
That recommendation was put down after police officials and McPherson said the term “sensitivity training” implied police already weren’t sensitive to student needs.
Perhaps MSU police shouldn’t be so sensitive about the term. Police, like anyone else, can always learn ways to be more sensitive, no matter how progressive the department already is.
It also was reprehensible on McPherson’s behalf to constantly cut off students as they voiced their opinions and concerns during the committee meetings.
The findings of a committee like this are practically worthless if the opinions of one side are being silenced by the other. If that is the case, this was not a task force in any sense of the title; it was a puppet show.
Benson announced his retirement from the MSU police force Monday - the first business day after the recommendations were released.
MSU officials say the two events are unrelated.
Nonetheless, assistant police Chief Jim Dunlap will have his work cut out for him when he is promoted as Benson’s replacement on Aug. 1. Many students find it difficult to trust the police.
If Dunlap doesn’t make some major changes and comply to the task force’s findings, the road to better relations between police and students is going to continue to be long and bumpy.
