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joeglow3

(6,228 posts) Fri Jan 31, 2014, 12:33 PM Jan 2014

‘U’ Students Want Crime Alerts To Avoid Using Racial Descriptions

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/01/29/u-students-want-crime-alerts-to-avoid-using-racial-descriptions/

"MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – School officials at the University of Minnesota are working with black student and facility organizations after they wrote a letter to the school’s president about the racial descriptions given in crime alerts.

The letter, sent on Dec. 6, 2013, was issued by members of the African American and African Studies, Black Faculty and Staff Association, Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, Black Men’s Forum, Black Student Union and Huntley House for African American Males.

It was directed to University President Eric Kaler and Pamela Wheelock, the vice president of University Services.

Students and staff mailed the letter more than a month after the campus went on lockdown because of an attempted robbery at Anderson Hall on Nov. 11, 2013. University of Minnesota Police wrongfully identified a student as the suspect."

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‘U’ Students Want Crime Alerts To Avoid Using Racial Descriptions (Original Post) joeglow3 Jan 2014 OP

the intent has merit; the practicality has limits whatthehey Jan 2014 #1

Wanted: suspect we are not allowed to describe. If seen, well, you won't know him so never mind nt msongs Jan 2014 #2

That would defeat the purpose of a crime alert. Throd Jan 2014 #3

The could use "dark-skinned" to make clear that it is appearance and not a racial reference FarCenter Jan 2014 #4

whatthehey

(3,660 posts)

1. the intent has merit; the practicality has limits

Reply to joeglow3 (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 12:46 PM

Jan 2014

Police say the suspect is a stocky powerfully built male in his 40s 5'10"-6' tall with close cropped hair and broad flattish features. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Do we worry about Matt Damon or Mike Tyson look-alikes? Or me come to think of it, who looks like neither.

msongs

(67,421 posts)

2. Wanted: suspect we are not allowed to describe. If seen, well, you won't know him so never mind nt

Reply to joeglow3 (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 12:56 PM

Jan 2014

Throd

(7,208 posts)

3. That would defeat the purpose of a crime alert.

Reply to joeglow3 (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 12:59 PM

Jan 2014

If there is an active predator in a community, the public deserves as accurate a description as possible.

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

4. The could use "dark-skinned" to make clear that it is appearance and not a racial reference

Reply to joeglow3 (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2014, 01:08 PM

Jan 2014

"dark-skinned" would include Australian Aborigines, Melanesians, and Indian Tribals, for example.

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