Where are you?
Where are the students who were affected by the April 2-3 disturbances?
Where are the students who were bleeding from the impact of a tear gas canister or the 43 students who were arrested that night?
Wednesday is the last chance for you to tell your side of the story to the independent commission.
On Friday, the independent commission released its latest draft report on how the city and university should handle future student celebratory events.
Better communication between the university and the city, officers clearly wearing identification and using tear gas as a last resort are suggestions included in the draft. The draft will be discussed at a meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in room 402 of the Computer Center with time allotted for student comment.
These recommendations sound great in theory, but who's to say when is the "last resort?" Who will make sure these suggestions will be seen through?
The commission's draft means nothing unless student views are considered and the recommendations are enforced. Students shouldn't let this stop at a list of recommendations that can easily be swept under the rug and then forgotten.
No students showed up for the last independent commission meeting, which is shocking considering that police-estimated 3,000 people were tear-gassed last April for celebrating in the streets.
What happened to the passion and frustration that yielded so many letters to the editor for The State News, T-shirts that bashed the East Lansing Police Department and the dozens of Web sites set up to show video footage of the "riot?"
Many students weren't doing anything wrong, yet their eyes were burning and they were collapsing to the ground, merely for being in East Lansing that night. There will be no justice if students do not push for police to be held accountable for their actions.
This isn't about one night — it's about the relationship between the city and students, how police view students and how students are treated in this city.
If you don't stand up, who will?
Read the draft online at www.statenews.com or www.cityofeastlansing.com.
