The East Lansing Police Department never seems to understand why MSU students hold such a grudge against it.

However, this past weekend I experienced firsthand why the police don't have the respect they think they deserve.

While standing in my friend's garage, talking on my phone and drinking a beer, a police officer shouted at me to come out and talk to him.

Since I am 21, I was not worried about speaking with him, and tried to have a conversation with him. However, this was hindered by him yelling at me and threatening to arrest me.

The officer proceeded to take me into the driveway in front of several other students who were getting MIPs to lecture me about respecting police officers. He actually had the nerve to tell me to pretend he was a professor and treat him with the respect I give my professors.

I could not believe the things he was saying to me, and on top of that he would not allow me to speak and threatened to arrest me if I did, for "acting disorderly to a police officer."

After experiencing this, I will never have respect for the ELPD. It is completely unnecessary for it to degrade students like it did to me; I was humiliated and felt like I was a small child after he yelled at me. The ELPD needs to get over its power trip and find a better way to handle issues in East Lansing.

Amy Carroll
elementary education junior