- The University of Massachusetts-Boston announced that the presence of state police "has ended."
- The announcement comes as colleges nationwide face calls to cut ties with police.
The state police previously used the university’s parking lots because of “a long-standing practice of inter-agency cooperation among the commonwealth’s public safety and law enforcement entities related to large scale events in Boston," the chancellor noted.
“a deliberate act of violence against the Black, POC and undocumented students" Tweet This
For example, she recalled how the parking lot was used “when the city was crowded and in need of overflow parking for police agencies” at large-scale events, such as former President Barack Obama's visit to the area as well as the Boston Marathon, which was bombed in 2013.
To date, inter-agency cooperation has helped ensure that both the campus and city residents are safe, and the partnerships are utilized on a regular basis for both minor policing situations and emergencies like that of the Boston Marathon Bombing.
However, Newman writes that “for people who have historically, systematically, and even routinely been victims of police misconduct," the police's presence is an "intimidating display." She claims that police can, therefore, be an “implied deterrent” for students who want to protest.
UMass Boston will be working alongside Chief Baynard to create “a Police Community Advisory Board that will consist of students, faculty, and staff." Its purpose is to allow for open communication between the university and the public safety department “to discuss national topics."
UMass-Boston: 'The state police presence on campus has ended'
The announcement comes as colleges nationwide face calls to cut ties with police.
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