University students are known for voicing their opinions on a variety of campus and community-based issues, including drug and alcohol policies and whether police officers should be allowed to carry weapons on campus. However, students have shown surprisingly little interest in campus programs about Eugene policing policies. Despite the Eugene Police Department’s efforts to gain student feedback regarding its policies, turnout for its campus forums has been extremely low. In fact, no students at all attended the first workshop, which reviewed “use of force” policies. Lack of interest in this area is cause for concern, since EPD’s policies affect college students in many ways.
Kudos to EPD for attempting to educate students and get them involved. The department’s outreach program has held a series of workshops on campus this year, aimed at collecting student suggestions about community-based programs and police policies. EPD said students could reduce the number of beat patrols on campus by supporting the community programs.
The Eugene Police Commission, EPD’s public outreach service, is also preparing its programming recommendations for the department’s upcoming budget and could use student input in deciding on programs and policies.
Many students have cited concerns about law enforcement issues on campus, such as drug and alcohol policies and the possible return of Party Patrol, a program that boosted weekend night patrols in the University neighborhood. However, those who really want their voices heard should actually attend the workshops designed to let them do just that.
It’s imperative to speak out, but the only way to institute change is to use the services available and channel suggestions to the right people. EPD has made an effort to listen to students, and it’s time students take advantage of that opportunity.