As part of Campus Safety Awareness Week, representatives from
the American Civil Liberties Union and Student Legal Services came
to campus Wednesday night to speak to students about their civil
liberties and available legal services on campus.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council and the Muslim
Student Association collaborated in organizing the event, which was
entitled, “Know Your Rights.”
Peter Bibring, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties
Union, mainly focused on how one should behave in police encounters
and what is considered police misconduct. Afterward, Liz Kemper,
director of SLS, discussed the resources on campus and what sort of
cases the department of student affairs handles.
Bibring began the evening by advising students on what to do if
stopped by the police.
“You need to think carefully about what you say, because
whatever you say to the police could be used against you,” he
said. “Don’t resist arrest. The first thing you should
do is find out if you’re being detained or under arrest,
because if not, then you can go.”
Bibring brought up the Taser incident of last quarter, when a
student of Iranian descent was shocked five times after failing to
present his BruinCard in Powell. He discussed when police can use
excessive force, how Tasers work and the controversial issues
surrounding their aftereffects.
“Police can use some pain compliance on you if
you’re passively resisting. Tasers are most dangerous when
they’re deployed multiple times,” Bibring said.
“Officers need to be properly trained, and there needs to be
careful monitoring of Taser research.”
He also mentioned the Los Angeles Police Department and Los
Angeles Sheriff’s Department do not allow Taser use, so it is
not likely students will encounter them elsewhere in Los
Angeles.
“I’m glad that a representative from ACLU came to
tell us that we have the right to ask questions,” said Carlos
Saucedo, a USAC general representative. “I think a lot of us
see the police as an institution not to be reckoned
with.”
Kemper shifted the discussion to how SLS is meant to advise
students and help them explore their options.
“We provide personal, confidential assistance to students
and negotiate on the students’ behalf,” she said.
SLS covers cases on various topics such as student harassment
and discrimination, housing issues, tenants’ rights,
auto-related matters, identity theft, employment, family law,
illegal downloading and insurance, she said.
SLS is located in the basement of Dodd Hall, and they charge $30
per case, which is charged to a student’s BAR account.
Gregory Cendana, USAC internal vice president, said he hoped the
workshop would educate students so they can utilize resources.
“After the Taser incident, students have been concerned
about what their rights are and what acts are appropriate.
Hopefully this will shed light on the resources available and what
they can do.”