EVP condemns alleged acts of police brutality
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 25, 1995 9:00 p.m.
EVP condemns alleged acts of police brutality
Proposed resolution seeks inquiry of NCAA Championship
revelry
By Rashmi Nijagal
Daily Bruin Staff
In response to the growing number of complaints of police
brutality in Westwood on the night of the NCAA basketball
championships, the undergraduate external vice president’s office
issued a resolution condemning the alleged actions of the Los
Angeles Police at last night’s council meeting.
Since the night of the championship, the external vice
president’s office has received 30 complaints of police brutality.
The resolution cites several complaints, including reports of
police shooting tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd.
"I think that the students who were affected by the overreaction
of some police need to see their student government take a visible
and vocal stance," York Chang, external vice president, said.
"Students were angry and frustrated with the events of that night
and student government needs to be able to channel that anger and
sense of injustice into addressing the issue."
Although the council tabled its vote on the resolution until
next week’s student government meeting, because not enough council
members were present, the resolution did meet with the council’s
approval.
"I think it is absolutely necessary (because) there was a lot
left unsaid after the so-called riots in Westwood," Amy Goodman,
internal vice president, said. "The resolution is a good thing and
it is too bad that we didn’t have quorum. It is my feeling that
generally council is very concerned about this issue. We will be
glad to get a resolution through."
In addition to citing several alleged instances of brutality,
the resolution asks the student council to denounce police actions
that night and requests an investigation into the individual cases
of police violence.
"The resolution brings a closer connection between (the
undergraduate government) and students on campus," said John Du, a
third-year economics student and a director from the external vice
president’s office.
"It is really important because the student government needs to
take a stance against injustices that we saw against students after
the game."
