CONTENT WARNING: The following article contains a brief description of an incident of police violence on Hampshire’s campus.
—
Nov. 1 — Following police activity on campus early last week involving a police drone flight, RAM (Revolution, Abolition, Mobilization), a student group formerly known as the Revolutionary Socialists Union, held a meeting last Friday about the police activity where they alleged additional drone flights during the following week, contrary to a statement provided to Leapfrog by Director of Community Care and Wellbeing, Kris Nolan-Parker.
Amherst Police were called to campus by a student last week to respond to a mental health crisis on the night of Sunday, October 20th. The police were present in the Merrill quad area from approximately 6:10PM, moving to the Library parking lot at 7:30PM, where police launched a drone. Police left campus by 9:20PM. Campus Safety and Wellbeing (CSW) remained in the vicinity of the police throughout their time on campus, although there were brief periods where individual officers were left on their own.
RAM quickly distributed posters across campus for a “Cops Off Campus” community meeting on Friday, October 25th.
The meeting was attended by 10 students, not including a Leapfrog reporter who was also in attendance.
At the meeting, RAM alleged at least three additional drone flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night, claiming that the drones flew away when students attempted to photograph them. RAM identified these via a red and green light pattern that was also visible on the drone seen Sunday night. These lights, called navigation lights, are required during night flights by the FAA for all aircraft, and are common to many models of drone, both civilian and enterprise.
When reached for comment, Kris Nolan-Parker (knp), Senior Director of Community Care & Wellbeing asserted that no police or CSW operated drones have been utilized on campus since the incident on 10/20 and suggested that any other drone sightings may be due to students flying drones recreationally. Additionally, Nolan-Parker clarified that “CSW does not own a drone or have one in our possession for use.”
RAM members recounted asking CSW about the police presence and drone flight, saying that CSW “stonewalled” them, and refused to address their concerns, saying only that the police presence was “necessary.”
RAM additionally noted an incident during the fall 2022 semester, where Amherst Police conducted a manhunt on campus for a person who was later detained in Hadley.
During the search, the Amherst Police detained a Hampshire College student who was placed in handcuffs and questioned. After this incident, former Dean of Students, Zauyah Waite, released a statement to the campus community condemning the police’s conduct. The statement also acknowledged that when the detained student reached out to CSW for information, CSW “did not engage with the care and concern we expect.”
This incident and subsequent statement was cited by RAM members as both a precedent that provokes reasonable concern about police activity on campus, as well as a precedent that the college can communicate with the campus community about police activity and has in the past.
When asked about the effect police activity has on multiply marginalized students, especially BIPOC, Nolan-Parker said “we understand that this experience can be especially distressing for individuals with intersecting marginalized identities, including members of our community who are BIPOC, transgender, international, 2SLGBQTAI+, neurodiverse, or living with disabilities. We are sorry for harm caused by this situation to those who carry these identities.”
REVIEWED BY: Malfoy Kimmel, Kenzie Doherty, Axen Wetzel, Ryan Nivus
