University President Richard Lariviere wrote a letter condemning the actions of University students for their involvement in Saturday’s clashes with police.
Law enforcement officers deployed tear gas rounds on approximately 400 individuals around the intersection of 13th and 14th Avenues with Ferry Street, four blocks from the University and at least nine arrests were made .
Lariviere’s letter praised law enforcement personnel for quickly responding and settling the incident and commended them for their “professionalism.”
“I am deeply disturbed by the behavior displayed by young people, including UO students, in the neighborhood west of the University of Oregon campus,” Lariviere said in his letter. “The UO is committed to being a good neighbor and a positive member of the local community.”
Eugene Police Department and the University administration stated that there have been communication between the two entities involving the incident. In addition, both the Department of Public Safety and EPD spokespersons have confirmed a degree of cooperation between the two agencies in responding to the event.
While DPS was not directly involved with EPD’s effort to settle the riots, DPS Assistant Director and Assistant Chief Carolyn McDermed did confirm that DPS was in contact with the EPD throughout the evening, monitored the west side of campus closest to the scene of the incident and sent an unidentified DPS sergeant to attend a debriefing of the event held by EPD.
EPD Public Information Coordinator Jenna McCulley confirmed that the EPD and DPS have always had a “community partnership” in sharing information.
ASUO President Amelie Rousseau reconfirmed her position against what she said she considers to have been the disproportionate response carried out by law enforcement officials and says that she has spoken to administration officials regarding her views on the matter.
She also stressed once again that based on the EPD response, she feels increasingly opposed to Oregon state legislation that would allow DPS to carry weapons on campus .
Lariviere also said in the letter that he, along with other University and community leaders, will be going door-to-door to residences with students living off-campus to welcome them back to school in an effort to teach them about being good neighbors. This approach also aims to improve university relationships with long-term residents in the targeted areas of Fairmont, South and West University neighborhoods. Community leaders expected to attend include Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and EPD Chief Pete Kerns .
As of deadline, Lariviere’s letter was only released to media and law enforcement.
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Lariviere let down after weekend disturbance
Daily Emerald
September 27, 2010
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