Standing their Ground

By Emily Bechen

Last Thursday the Senate hosted an informal question and answer session with both students and members of the Santa Clara Police Department.

The goal was to address students' confusion regarding recent police procedures. But many students who attended the briefing felt that goal was not close to attained.

"The police merely regurgitated the same rhetoric they had written out before they got there. Overall, it was pretty status quo," senior Christian Kurpiewski said.

Many students have felt the effects of a greater police presence around Santa Clara's campus. The SCPD has indeed increased its manpower on the weekends with a large amount of police volunteers, coined the "Team 200," who are paid through the SCPD's overtime fund.

But the question remains; has this cut down on the "hostile behavior" law enforcement officials claim that students have been freely exhibiting.

In prior years Team 200 retired in mid-October, and as students are aware each weekend they are greeted with more officers than usual.

In rebuttal, Officer Dennis Grilli claimed that Team 200 is only present during these first few months to set a precedent.

"We want to set a behavioral pattern and create an environment for students to go about their business within reasonable expectations," Grilli said.

Some students question those expectations.

Senior Brad Kettman's house was threatened with eviction early in the year and was slated as a "problem house." Initially, the police talked to the ten members of the house telling them they were only there to help out with the regulation of visitors and noise.

However, since then eight members with previously clean records have been issued various citations, which makes them even more vulnerable to losing their home.

"How is that helping us? It's a debacle," Kettman said.

Furthermore, members of his household attempted to go to the police station and take care of their citations and were told to come back a week later. It was explained that because of the sheer volume of tickets that have been issued the processing system was backed up.

Grilli maintains that the beat officers have established an amicable and cooperative relationship with off-campus students over the past ten years.

However, at this juncture this relationship seems to be in jeopardy.

Though Grilli claims that the police will not punish suitable behavior, many residents from Alviso Street disagree. Kurpiewski has also been threatened with eviction from his landlord, and been visited by police officers on a regular basis.

He claims that one neighbor in particular makes frivolous phone calls to police officers when only three people gather in his backyard to hang out.

He said that he and his roommates are fed up and feel persecuted.

Others who live on Alviso Street have echoed those sentiments and said that they think they are the ones being victimized, not their neighbors.

When this issue was addressed Thursday night, Grilli noted that all police officers were aware of the situation on Alviso Street, and officers will be careful to note in reports whether or not the complaint was unfounded.

Another issue of concern was students' comfort level in calling the police if unwanted visitors crashed their parties. The worry seemed to be that the police would be invited into the home of the party's host, and would not just escort the outsiders away but would be consciously looking for other infractions of the law as well.

Grilli again responded that as the host students should realize that the police will protect them.

"But if in the process of getting to that goal, we may see something improper," he said.

He explained that this in turn will force law officials to take action. But if you take proper precautions this should not be a problem, and the officers' priority will be the nature of the call they receive.

Grilli and the other officers also noted that students can work together with the police department to reduce their presence at parties. Steps include following a list of mutually agreed upon rules, and obtaining a noise permit from Santa Clara's City Hall.

Other issues students raised included open container policies. Officers responded by saying that any bottle of alcohol in public view could be designated as an open container but it was up to the individual officer who has detained you.

Many students also felt as if the police abused their power and were unduly disrespectful to them. In response the present officers urged anyone who feels disrespected by an officer to call that individual's supervisor, who will do as they see fit.

Though Kettman appreciates the officers taking the time and effort to attend the Senate meeting, he was disappointed by the low student turnout and the officers' ability to dodge the questions.

"No one talked straight, and very little was accomplished," Kettman said.