Admin., police hear student concerns at town hall meeting

The tables were turned on administrators last night. Rather than listening to officials lecture, students were allowed to ask hard-hitting questions about issues they cared about to a panel of four officials.

About 40 students attended last night's meeting in Stamp Student Union — the town hall was the first the Student Government Association co-sponsored in several years — which was designed for students to seek answers from administrators, University Police and Prince George's County Police, SGA members said. However, several students who attended the event said it was not as productive as they hoped.

The panelists — members included Prince George's County Police District 1 Commander Maj. Robert Brewer, Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement, Associate Director of Community Relations Gloria Aparicio Blackwell and University Police Chief David Mitchell — immediately took questions rather than making opening remarks.

One of the concerns students raised was in regards to alleged workplace abuse on the campus — allegations of employee mistreatment surfaced last year after an anonymous letter was sent to students and faculty. Members of student group Community Roots questioned the panel about whether the university was still pursuing the issue.

University President Wallace Loh released a report last semester detailing recommendations to improve Facilities Management and Residential Facilities, but several attendees said they feared that was not enough. Mitchell said the department is continuing to take the issue seriously, even though it has not received recent reports of abuse.

"That's not to say there hasn't been administrative misconduct," said Mitchell, adding, "We're very concerned about the perception that the university as a whole doesn't care."

In addition, SGA President Kaiyi Xie asked Brewer — who was appointed to the post Jan. 16 — what policy changes have developed within the department in response to students rioting two years ago after a March basketball win against Duke.

"We had an extensive refresher on the tactics and maneuvers that are used in these kinds of events, that everyone participated in," Brewer said. "We're using the events of two years ago as a learning experience for us."

Although SGA Director of Communications Staci Armezzani said she hoped students understood that the panelists were there to learn from the students, some students, such as senior journalism major Lizzie Horne said the town hall forum seemed unfocused and should have been centered on a few key issues, adding that the responses were vague.

"Honestly, I don't think any of the questions were answered appropriately tonight," she said.

Interfraternity Council President Marc George, whose council co-sponsored the event, said before the event that he hoped students would take advantage of the direct forum with administrators and police.

"It gives people the chance to ask these questions kind of right from the source," he said.

Armezzani said it was important to give students an opportunity to voice their opinions directly to university administrators and police.

"It's an opportunity for city members as well as students to come out and kind of talk to members of the community and campus," she said.

Mitchell added he was hopeful open discussion with students would foster future communication.

"My expectations are continuing an open dialogue with members of the student body on issues that are important to them," he said.

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