The Kingston Police recently sent a letter requesting the University pay $84,000 for the expenses they incurred in order to police the Ghetto during Homecoming. In a second letter, the police suggested that the University have automatic punishment in place for students who violate the Criminal code.
They have also anticipated new strategies for next year, which may include helmets, Tasers and tear gas. In addition, the newly established City Council-approved Committee to Restore Order will soon begin trying to uncover the causes of the events of Homecoming in an attempt to prevent a violent recurrence.
The new committee’s name alone perpetuates an escalation in attitude. It’s no coincidence that as police action on Aberdeen escalates, so does the violence. Nevertheless, the findings of the committee will hopefully shed more light onto what went wrong and what needs to be done.
In an earlier editorial, the Journal did suggest a greater police presence at the Aberdeen Street party—however, Tasers were not the first things to come to mind in of possible strategies. While helmets would protect officers from flying beer bottles, Tasers seem an extreme measure. Before resorting to such tactics, the police should first assess how well their strategies for Abderdeen this year worked. There are other strategies the police can try before resorting to violence involving Tasers. Many officers were situated on either side of Aberdeen, containing the crowd within the street, but failed to venture onto Aberdeen and attempt to actually control the crowd. For the police to call for more discipline in addition to the legal consequences that accompany the Criminal Code points to an inadequacy in their own system. The process of non-academic discipline should continue to supplement the Criminal Code. Its due process should not be byed simply because the police don’t think punishments under the Criminal Code are sufficient.
Ultimately, students, are responsible for their actions. The University is not. The University was in no way involved with Aberdeen and should not be made to pay the $84,000. In fact, the University made good efforts to deter students from partying on Aberdeen, which included organizing the concert in Miller parking lot. If the police want to develop effective strategies, the first place they should look is to students. There have been few efforts made by the police to truly engage students in developing an effective police strategy.
We encourage students to share their opinions and possible solutions as to what should happen with Homecoming. This could mean dropping off a submission to the Journal’s essay contest before Oct. 31, or simply attending the various symposiums being held to address Aberdeen.
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