[Coca] finalized content of info packets

[Rafferty U. Kenney]

   Also, please be sure to note the searches of person and property by Public
Safety. I never got any solid answers on their protocols, but just to let
people know what's going on ahead of time and perhaps will feel less infringed
upon. While I do like people such as Karen and deeply emphasize with what
they're dealing with (it was nuts in the office today), but over the years I
have watched this attitude become increasingly disrespectful, invasive, and
highly dubious in terms of adherence to NSNS as well as possibly state and
federal law. A brief conversation today illustrated that Public Safety does not
necessarily know or understand all the institutional protocols of Hampshire.
   I do agree with Public Safety in terms of avoiding litigation from generally
careless and drunk individuals; preventing armed lunatics from entrance; and
ensuring that any persons responsible for the destruction of our school's
property and violence against our community will be appropriately dealt with,
if not prevented. However, it needs to be stated right now that the actions of
those employed to protect the community have been negligent or pugnacious in
multiple incidents. Normally I would deem this an inappropriate forum, but I am
as concerned about the behavior of our safe keepers as random guests for this
event. A student should not be allowed to carry a sword or waltz into the RCC
with a bottle of liqour to smash, but I do not want people to be uncomfortable
around our employees either. This is part of an ongoing debate over the
character of Public Safety that has become radically altered since I arrived in
Fall 2004. At the very least, I want it to be emphasized as much as possible
that students are responsible for the behaviour and wellbeing of their guests;
that they are likewise responsible for attendees who are strangers to them; to
foster an amicable rapport with security employees as much as possible; and
that security employees will conduct random inspections of property and person.

-- 
Rafferty Kenney, co-chair
Committee on Community Activities
Hampshire College
P.O. box 0891
Amherst, MA 01002
(518) 928-7129