University of Virginia Library

Harassing Blacks

Last week several dozen black students
met with University officials to complain
about being harassed by University Security
Police. In any incident of this nature it is
most difficult to determine who is at fault.
What is perhaps more important than whether
or not the University police did, in fact,
needlessly stop several black students, is the
fact that black students on the Grounds
believe that they were harassed. At a
University which has shown, in recent years,
that it is willing to take steps to recruit
students from minority groups this is a serious
charge. Because the black students at this
school have to endure so many insults and
incidents of discrimination in areas over
which this University has no control, it would
seem as if this school would do well to "bend
over backwards" to assure black students that
they are being treated no differently than
other students.

It is no secret that in the United Stated
blacks are suspected of committing more
crimes than whites, are arrested more
frequently, and given harsher penalties by our
judicial system than whites guilty of similar
offenses. Among many students these days
there is a mistrust of all police, but blacks in
particular feel that policemen are the enemy.

And so the reaction of these students may
have been merely automatic, although we
have never heard of any students being
stopped by a University policeman for
"blocking a sidewalk." If these students fit
the description of two blacks who were
suspected of robbery, the arresting officer
should have explained this to the students.

The University Security Police have a
fairly good image among most students on the
Grounds. These officers are known for their
ability to deal with drunken students, major
and minor disturbances, and traffic problems
with tact and efficiency. So the problem is
not one of the Security Department's
inability to adapt to the presence of black
students on the Grounds.

We talked to Wade Bromwell, Director of
Security today, and he seemed genuinely
wiling to do anything he could to improve
the relations between his department and the
black students on the Grounds. He did say
one problem was that the black students
"don't know whether they can believe me or
trust me." And that is perhaps the real
problem. Mr. Bromwell and his staff have the
considerable burden of proving that they are a
friend rather than a foe of all students
whether they are white or black. His officers
will have to go out of their way now to
understand black fears and compensate for
them.

Mr. Bromwell had invited black students
to come and meet members of his force on an
informal basis, which is a fine idea except that
black students grow rather weary of always
having to convince white people that they are
human beings and should be treated as such.

We are convinced that they have the
ability to adapt and convince black students
that the Department of Security is eager to
protect their rights. Whether the University
police are willing to make the effort remains
to be seen.