Marshall University will host a series of activities Oct. 4 through 6 in honor of National Community Policing Week to help promote engagement with local law enforcement officials.
Dr. Cedric Gathings, vice president for student affairs, said these events aim to educate students and the community at large about many prevalent issues facing society today.
“We want to give our campus community and other local citizens the opportunity to engage in a dialogue regarding race relations, privilege and economic inequality to improve the understanding of how our differences can intersect,” Gathings said.
Jim Terry, director of public safety and chief of the Marshall University Police Department, said this experience will empower students to know their rights while understanding the perspective of law enforcement officers.
“Our department works to achieve common goals within our community and to create a dialogue,” Terry said. “Everyone has the right to safety and we want to invite everyone to learn more about what we as police officers do to keep our community members safe.”
The following events are scheduled for next week:
- Just Us Social Mixers
Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m., Shawkey Dining Room, Memorial Student Center. Campus and community members will have the opportunity to interact with the university’s police department at a mixer. Following the mixer and formal greetings from university leaders, participants will be assigned to groups to discuss a variety of issues at stations around the room. Each station will focus on a topic such as driving under the influence, hazing, police brutality, underage drinking and community responsibility. This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, Marshall University Police Department, Student Government Association, Office of Intercultural Affairs and Housing and Residence Life.
- Use of Force Virtual Reality Experience
Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m., Huntington Police Department, 675 10th Participants will receive an overview of use-of-force tactics used by law enforcement officers, followed by a scenario-based virtual reality experience in the Huntington Police Department’s training facility. Each session is limited to 20 participants who must register in advance. Requests for reservations should be sent to Renee Denney at denney@marshall.edu by Monday, Oct. 3. This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, Marshall University Police Department and the Huntington Police Department.
- Ask the Chiefs Luncheon
Thursday, Oct. 6, at noon, Room BE5, Memorial Student Center. Students and the public are invited to participate in open dialogue with local police chiefs, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers in an effort to enhance relationships between students and community authorities. A traditional town hall setting will allow students to ask questions related to issues surrounding social justice, firearms and weapons on college campuses, and civic engagement. This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, Marshall University Police Department, Huntington Police Department, Student Government Association and Black United Students.
- Community Affair: Understanding and Respecting Our Differences
Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., Room BE5, Memorial Student Center. This program will be moderated by Marshall University faculty and will encourage participants to share their interests and concerns, broaden their understanding of other racial and ethnic groups, and be empowered to act together to achieve common goals. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and reevaluate some of their assumptions. Through this process of open dialogue, the community can begin learning to work together to improve race relations. This event is sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs.
To learn more about National Community Policing Week Activities at Marshall University, contact Gathings at gathings@marshall.edu or call 304-696-6422. For more information about future community outreach events sponsored by Marshall University’s Office of Student Affairs, visit www.marshall.edu/student-affairs. To learn more about Marshall University’s Police Department, visit www.marshall.edu/mupd.
