Trespass order creates controversy

Trespass order creates controversy

A No Trespass order issued by Public Safety to a Black man caused significant student outcry. The man in question, 28-year-old Luaay Elamir was being hosted by Brett Smith '13. On November 21st, Public Safety received a call alleging public indecency and urination, regarding Elamir. Pubsafe officers then came to Stewart Hall (the dorm that Elamir was being hosted in by Smith), and questioned Smith on the location of Elamir (he was in town at the time). Pubsafe then involved the Middlebury Police Department. He was eventually located in Davis Library, where "two MPD officers and the officer-in-training escorted Elamir into the lobby of the Davis Family Library, where they waited for two Public Safety officers to arrive". This totaled the number at 5 officials, a completely unnecessary amount considering the impetus for the No Trespass Order. They then escorted him back to Stewart Hall, where he packed up his belongings, and then left.

Volume 110, Number 11

Jess Berry

The Campus

12/08/2011

Anna Clements '12.5
Brett Smith '13
Sam Koplinka-Loehr '13
Lisa Buchard- Director of Public Safety
Rachel Callender '12

"Noting the potentially excessive number of officers present, she added, 'In my opinion, the [MPD} were being insensitive towards him... when we were in the lobby, one of the officers said, 'you peed in a cup in front of girls,' and... 'you threw it at them'. I don't know if that's true."- Clements

"Buchard agreed that there was no need for five officers to be present in the library, and plans to discuss this with the MPD in order to avoid future situations where more officers are sent on a case than are necessary."

"'Officer [Neil} Mogerley [of the MPD] said that he would arrest all of us if we did not leave the building,' said Koplinka- Loehr in his statement. 'Despite [Smith]'s limited mobility...they continued to rush us and push for a faster pace, saying that we were wasting their time."

"In this case, however, Buchard said that the officers were following procedures correctly. Callender did feel, however, that had Elamir been a white male, his treatment would have been less acceptable and caused greater outcry."