University of Minnesota poÂlice will stop sendÂing out what they consider vague deÂscripÂtions of susÂpects in camÂpus crime alerts afÂter critÂiÂcism that authÂoriÂties someÂtimes reÂlease raÂcial deÂscripÂtions and little othÂer conÂcrete inÂforÂmaÂtion.
From now on, the camÂpusÂwide bulÂleÂtins trigÂgered by seÂriÂous crimes such as robÂberÂy and agÂgraÂvatÂed asÂsault will only inÂclude the susÂpect's deÂscripÂtion "when there is sufÂfiÂcient deÂtail that would help iÂdenÂtiÂfy a speÂcifÂic inÂdiÂvidÂuÂal or group," U Vice PresÂiÂdent PamÂeÂla Wheelock said WednesÂday in an e-mail to stuÂdents, facÂulÂty and staff.
The anÂnounceÂment came afÂter a seÂries of stuÂdent-led proÂtests on the isÂsue and marks a sigÂnifiÂcant step for a uÂniÂverÂsiÂty dealÂing with tenÂsion over the raÂcial cliÂmate on camÂpus, an isÂsue that has reÂverÂberÂated at colÂleges and uniÂverÂsiÂties across the counÂtry in reÂcent months.
Wheelock said the goal has alÂways been to make stuÂdents and resiÂdents feel safe and inÂformed.
"For some, knowÂing they have all the inÂforÂmaÂtion availÂable about a crime, inÂcludÂing the comÂplete susÂpect deÂscripÂtion, makes them feel betÂter inÂformed and inÂcreasÂes how safe they feel," Wheelock said in the e-mail. "But othÂers — parÂticÂuÂlarÂly black men — have shared that susÂpect deÂscripÂtions negÂaÂtiveÂly imÂpact their sense of safeÂty."
She said critics of the polÂicy also feel the raÂcial deÂscripÂtions "reÂinÂforce steÂreoÂtypes of black men as threats and creÂate a hosÂtile camÂpus cliÂmate."
The camÂpus adÂvoÂcaÂcy group Whose DiÂverÂsiÂty?, which has been behind sevÂerÂal reÂcent high-proÂfile demÂonÂstraÂtions at the U, said in a stateÂment WednesÂday afÂterÂnoon that it was pleased with the uÂniÂverÂsiÂty's "acÂtive enÂgageÂment with the isÂsue of racialized crime alerts from the adÂminÂisÂtraÂtion."
The group said, howÂever, that the U's anÂnounceÂment gave the imÂpresÂsion that "the adÂminÂisÂtraÂtion reÂmains unÂconÂvinced that raÂcial proÂfilÂing has real and tanÂgiÂble conÂseÂquences."
A memÂber of the group cited a study by uÂniÂverÂsiÂty authÂoriÂties that found that about a third of camÂpus crime alerts proÂvidÂed "a limÂitÂed susÂpect deÂscripÂtion." That means race could still be inÂcludÂed in about two-thirds of the crime alerts.
"It's still putÂting black stuÂdents and othÂer stuÂdents of color at risk of beÂing raÂcialÂly proÂfiled," said Leah PruÂdent, a seniÂor gloÂbal studÂies maÂjor.
In the most reÂcent camÂpus demÂonÂstraÂtion Feb. 9, 16 Whose DiÂverÂsiÂty? memÂbers — some lugÂging sleepÂing bags — took over U PresÂiÂdent Eric Kaler's seÂcond-floor ofÂfice in MorÂrill Hall, vowÂing to stay unÂtil their deÂmands were met. The sit-in endÂed nearÂly eight hours later with the arÂrests 13 peoÂple.
AÂmong their deÂmands was greatÂer raÂcial and ethÂnic diÂverÂsiÂty in uÂniÂverÂsiÂty hirÂing pracÂtices and more monÂey for the school's ethÂnic studÂies program, which they conÂtended Kaler had promÂised would hapÂpen by the end of last year.
The uÂniÂverÂsiÂty's anÂnounceÂment WednesÂday didn't apÂpear to adÂdress these isÂsues.
The adÂminÂisÂtraÂtion said change in crime alerts had been in the works for about 18 months, durÂing which U ofÂfiÂcials exÂamÂined poÂlice pracÂtices at all 14 Big Ten Conference schools and at Twin Cities-area colÂleges and uniÂverÂsiÂties.
Once the chanÂges are in efÂfect, the U will join the University of MarÂyÂland as the only Big Ten inÂstiÂtuÂtions that are "evÂaluÂatÂing the use of those descriptors in a case-by-case baÂsis," U spokesÂman Steve Henneberry said.
Kaler said in a stateÂment that he reached the deÂciÂsion afÂter conÂferÂring with outÂgoÂing uÂniÂverÂsiÂty Police Chief Greg Hestness, Wheelock and othÂer school leadÂers and reÂviewÂing "the pracÂtices of a numÂber of othÂer colÂleges and uniÂverÂsiÂties."
Libor Jany • 612-673-4064 Twitter:@StribJany