To: President Zimmer
U of C alumni petition against UCPD violence
To: President Zimmer, the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago, Ken Manotti, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, and Marlon C. Lynch, Associate Vice President and Chief of Police
As alumni of the University of Chicago, we were very concerned to hear that four people (including a current student and an alumnus of the UofC) were violently arrested and later charged during a peaceful sit-in at the new medical center in Hyde Park. Regardless of our personal stances on the University’s refusal to consider opening a trauma center for adults, this episode marks a distinct departure from the values of open and free inquiry that we, as alumni, pride ourselves on.
It should seem obvious that the application of excessive force and brutality by the police to a group of non-violent protesters can only have the effect of chilling and silencing discourse – the discourse that the University is supposed to create space for and to support. The life of the mind does not exist in a vacuum, insulated from the greater society; it cannot exist without democratic civil participation, like the peaceful demonstrations that occurred on Sunday. It is particularly disturbing, in light of the UCPD’s troubling history of mistreatment and intimidation of African American students, that especially excessive and authoritarian measures were taken against the African-American student, Toussaint Losier, who was arrested.
These actions do not represent the values we associate with the University of Chicago, and unless concrete steps are taken to rectify and make amends for these actions, it will be hard for us to continue to support of our alma mater. As alumni, we feel this incident is shameful and reflects poorly on the University of Chicago. We will not be able, in good conscience, to give money to such an institution.
As alumni of the University of Chicago, we were very concerned to hear that four people (including a current student and an alumnus of the UofC) were violently arrested and later charged during a peaceful sit-in at the new medical center in Hyde Park. Regardless of our personal stances on the University’s refusal to consider opening a trauma center for adults, this episode marks a distinct departure from the values of open and free inquiry that we, as alumni, pride ourselves on.
It should seem obvious that the application of excessive force and brutality by the police to a group of non-violent protesters can only have the effect of chilling and silencing discourse – the discourse that the University is supposed to create space for and to support. The life of the mind does not exist in a vacuum, insulated from the greater society; it cannot exist without democratic civil participation, like the peaceful demonstrations that occurred on Sunday. It is particularly disturbing, in light of the UCPD’s troubling history of mistreatment and intimidation of African American students, that especially excessive and authoritarian measures were taken against the African-American student, Toussaint Losier, who was arrested.
These actions do not represent the values we associate with the University of Chicago, and unless concrete steps are taken to rectify and make amends for these actions, it will be hard for us to continue to support of our alma mater. As alumni, we feel this incident is shameful and reflects poorly on the University of Chicago. We will not be able, in good conscience, to give money to such an institution.
Why is this important?
Four people were brutally arrested by the UCPD during a peaceful demonstration this Sunday, including a student and an alumnus of the University of Chicago. This goes against the spirit and ideals of the University of Chicago, and thus as alumni, we must make our disapproval known.