University of Houston backtracks on neon vest policy after criticism

[ad_1]

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes’ daily newsletter that keeps readers informed about Texas’ most essential news.

The University of Houston has reversed a policy requiring theater students to wear vests when rehearsing outdoor scenes, a move put in place after a campus police officer fired a gun at a black student while rehearsing a play.

The university’s decision, which was first reported by the Houston Chronicle, comes after criticism from students, who argued the policy placed the onus of their safety on them rather than the police . Students criticized campus administrators and police for failing to acknowledge and address the traumatic nature of the incident on students of color.

They wanted something to identify that the students weren’t threats on their campus so that when the UHPD stops, they can identify us, said Brandon Sanders, a senior who studies drama. A bright green vest won’t change my skin color, and my skin is black.

On Nov. 4, University of Houston police received a 911 call reporting a black man assaulting a woman with a knife on a loading dock behind a building on campus next to the theater school and of dance.

According to the police report provided to the Texas Tribune by the university, the responding officer pulled his gun down and pointed his gun in their general direction, yelling at the students to get down and show their hands. .

Both students shouted that they were repeating and followed the instructions. The officer returned the gun to its holster and explained that he had received a report of the assault, noting in the police report that he had tried to console the students, who were crying and shaking.

It turned out that the student, Domonique Champion, was not holding a knife. It was a blank sheet of paper that was part of the Champions script.

University officials say they reviewed the incident and determined the officer acted appropriately, in accordance with protocols for reporting an assault involving a weapon.

Champion, who is in the master’s program, declined to be interviewed for this story. He sent the Tribune a link to a recording of the town hall where he shared his experience with students and administrators.

I am terribly aware that the weapon was intended for me. Because of the angling, I knew it was meant for me, Champion told town hall, noting that the gun barrel was not pointed directly at him. I need it to be known [that] it’s more than the gun. It’s the fact that the weapon was already out, yes. I need you to understand that I didn’t feel safe until I heard the voice of a black sergeant.

I never want to be known for something like that, he later told the town hall.

Champion also told University of Houston Police Chief Ceaser Moore at this town hall that when the officer explained what happened, he made a joke.

He said: You should get an A because you cheated on us, Champion said.

According to a letter sent to students by Andrew Davis, dean of McGovern College of Arts and Sciences, the decision to have students wear the brightly colored vests was made during a meeting with faculty and a staff representative from the college. ‘UHPD to find a way to prevent a similar situation from happening. The group decided that the faculty should ask the students to wear the vests so that they could be identified as the actors.

University spokesman Shawn Lindsey said the university’s police chief was not aware of the decision to require outdoor vests until last Tuesday. Lindsey said the UHPD administrator who attended the faculty meeting said he was waiting for additional details on the plan before alerting the police chief.

Asking student actors to wear vests after the incident was not the right course of action and was not verified or approved by Police Chief Ceaser Moore, she wrote.

According to the Chronicle, Champion and other graduate students received vests in November. But some undergraduates, including Sanders, received them last week. Sanders said he started crying when he realized why he was being asked to wear the vest.

We just woke up to news of the hashtag Tire Nichols, Sanders said, referring to the black man who died three days after being beaten by police during a traffic stop in Memphis. It could have been the hashtag Domonique Champion. What if he didn’t give up? What if it was me, a vocal black boy who would have insulted them if they had pulled out the guns?

Sanders said he was unaware of the November incident until the vests were distributed last week. He and a group of students immediately went to the dean and voiced their concerns about the policy.

Afterward, Davis sent an email to students at the drama school thanking them for voicing their concerns and offering an open dialogue for the following week with students and administrators.

On Monday, Davis sent an email to all students at Kathrine McGovern College of the Arts alerting them to the incident and the decision to rescind the vest policy, saying the vests do not resolve the issue of providing our students safe and appropriate rehearsal spaces, especially for scenes involving alleged criminal or violent activity.

Despite its shortcomings, it was a solution that was found with the best intentions on all sides, Davis wrote. The University of Houston is a caring community, and our top priority is that our students feel safe so they can be successful in their studies and everything they do on campus.

Davis also noted that counseling would be available for students. The Dean announced the creation of a new task force made up of students, faculty and staff to help administrators better meet the needs of students in the future.

Shortly after sending this letter, Davis sent another message to the students of the theater and dance school and stated that he was postponing open dialogue until the college administration could share some information. solutions as completely as possible.

Sanders told the Tribune on Tuesday afternoon that the students will continue to host their own event where students can share their views on Wednesday. Lindsey said the dean had given permission for the students to continue with their own event and said he would attend.

I shouldn’t have to signify myself, said Sanders, who wrote I’m no threat on his vest, which he continues to wear on campus as a symbol of defiance. There should be more sensitive human beings to know that I’m just a student on campus. Before you draw your weapon, consider the situation.

Disclosure: The University of Houston financially supported The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the journalism of the Tribune. Find a full list here.

[ad_2]