Elaine Brown Story

Elaine Brown, former chairwoman and Minster of Defense of the Black Panther Party, visited Virginia Commonwealth University Friday night to discuss her work in the past as leader of the party and what she believes needs to change in the United States concerning race relations.

The Black Panther Party was an African American organization originally created to promote self-defense and civil right that was active during the late 60s and early 70s. Started by Huey Newton in Oakland, Cali., originally doctrine called for armed resistance to any oppression of justice for blacks, although the objectives and beliefs of the group changed as the years passed.

Brown, the first and only leader of the Black Panther Party, stood in front of a crowd so large that extra chairs were needed to seat them all and that ranged in diversity from young punk rockers with red hair to older businessmen and women still wearing office attire.

Although Brown’s style of dress had changed greatly from the afros and hoop earrings that were popular in the 60s and 70s, now wearing short straight hair, black slacks and black jacket, she was quick to launch into a style of speaking that that showed that her belief in the ideas of the party have not changed. Using sarcasm and wit to keep the attention of the audience, Brown quickly launched into a furious lecture that wouldn't let up for two hours.

"Glad to see that all you descendents of slaves have gotten over slavery," she said.

Brown went on to summarize for the audience the story of Michael "Little B" Lewis that she told in her 1996 book "The Condemnation of Little B."

Lewis was tried as an adult and convicted of the murder of Darrel Woods at 14 years old in the Bluff community of Atlanta during 1994. In her book, Brown argues that the condemnation of Lewis by the public did not begin after the murder, but at the moment of his birth. She believed that from the moment that Lewis was born that he was destined to end up in jail because of the circumstances he lived in.

Brown discussed the responses of the media in the aftermath of Lewis case to that of Kip Kinkel. Kinkel, a 15-year-old white male, was given a 112-year sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of his parents and classmate and the attempter murder of other classmates in Springfield, Ore., during September 1999. Brown says Lewis was ostracized by the media and black community while the public tried to rationalize what caused Kinkel to act out in violence.

"Nobody called Kip Kinkel a thug," she said.

Brown also commented on the theory of New Age Racism, what she calls the comments that actor and comedian Bill Cosby, Jesse Jackson and others have leveled at the black community. Brown defines New Age Racism as the stereotypes that society has about minorities, such as when a white woman would clutch her purse tightly when around black males. Brown pointed out her belief that New Age Racism is so firmly ingrained in modern American society that nobody notices that they’re acting on those ideas.

Brown said that in order to prevent the millions of other Little Bs from committing crimes, all communities, not just blacks, must know exactly what kind of world they want to develop. These communities have to learn to focus on the community as a whole instead of just worrying about only themselves. And that focus on community can only come from consciousness and education.

Brown closed by opening the floor for a short question and answer session. One student asked how he, as a white male, could fight New Age Racism while avoiding the suspicion of the black community. Brown responded by saying it would be best for him to not focus on helping poor blacks, but poor whites, much like the Young Patriots associated with the Black Panthers in the 60s. When questioned about he Duke lacrosse case, in which students are accused were accused of sexually assaulting an adult entertainer, Brown's responses became increasingly hostile, ending in a threat with expletives.

Brown acknowledged that although it's important to remember those who have died while trying to make things better for the poor, mistreated, and misrepresented, that people must not forget that the whole point of speaking out is to make a change occur and not accept the status quo.

"It won't be enough to celebrate their lives if we're still oppressed," she said.

Beat Story #2-Protests

With spring just around the corner, it's the season not just for pick-up soccer games in Monroe Park, but for protests on the VCU campuses.

According to Lt. David Q. Welch, commander of support services for VCU Police, the most common groups to stage protests on VCU property are abortion rights, animal rights, and anti-war groups.

But not just any group is allowed to congregate on campus. First, the group must contact the university and apply for a permit in order to use the space they request.

“The police department may be called on to identify any issues relevant to the group, but this is a rarity,” he said.

Next, the VCU Police identifies what issues are being protested and the number of protesters that is estimated to participate. Background information is gathered about the group and used along with the information provided on the permit to determine how much manpower is needed and what kind of issues may arise from the protest.

Shannon Le Corre, a VCU freshman involved with Voices for Planned Parenthood, or VOX, says that protesting on campus lets organizations reach people that they may not be able to reach otherwise.

"A lot of students are ignorant that there are student groups and people that are looking to change things," she said.

Problems have arisen when protests that were scheduled to remain stationary turned into marches and blocked traffic on the streets, or when the large crowd attracted noise complaints from buildings nearby the protest site. Controversial subjects have also caused both bystanders and VCU students to complain about the issues being protested.

Kyoung Pak, a VCU junior studying biochemistry, says that of all the types of protests held on campus, those with religious overtones should not be allowed.

“What happened to separation of church and state?” he said, referring to the political doctrine that advocates religious and government institutions be kept separate from one another.

John Paul Jones, a law professor at the University of Richmond, points out that the belief that a legal norm would control protests held at a public university isn't accurate.

“Even if one were to make the assumption...that the Establishment Clause erects a wall 'separating church and state', it only suggests what VCU might do. The First Amendment does not command a student to do anything or prohibit her from doing anything; it merely speaks to governments who would react to what she does or doesn’t do,” he said.

Laura Warren, a VCU junior studying English, believes that protests on campus are annoying at times, but that the college setting is the best opportunity for people to express their beliefs and protest for change.

“When we're older there's not going to be a common place for getting together and expressing ideas,” she said.

VCU Event and Conferences Services office does not have any requests on file for protests or rallies to be held at the Commons in upcoming weeks, but recommends that those interested in staying up to date on events held at the commons to refer to the virtual EMS calendar at http://www.ems.students.vcu.edu.

Beat Story #1- VCU vs. Richmond Police

If you think Virginia Commonwealth University police are just a bunch of rent-a-cops or security guards, then you're sorely mistaken.

The fact is that other than jurisdiction and certain titles concerning employment, VCU and Richmond City Police are mostly the same. The main difference is the size of the forces, with the VCU Police employing 70 sworn officers and the Richmond City Police having 650 sworn officers and 150 civilians in positions such as forensics specialists.

Cori Naser, a VCU junior, believes that the patrol schedule of the VCU Police and their constant close proximity equips them to better serve the VCU community, even though the Richmond Police boasts a higher number of sworn officers.

“They’re (VCU Police) more about serving and protecting (than Richmond Police),” Naser said.

Territory wise, VCU Police are responsible for both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV campus, including parking structures and the streets adjacent to buildings and parking lots. Richmond City police have authority and patrol in the entire city. VCU Police also have expanded authority to include neighborhoods that are adjacent to the university, such as Carver.

Richmond Police Lt. Gary Ladin, 4th precinct, says that along with the Richmond Police, VCU Police is considered a reporting entity, which means that it reports crimes to the state of Virginia.

Ladin says that when Richmond Police are called to respond to a crime that occurs on VCU property, they often will call VCU Police for assistance in handling the situation. Any type of investigation that needs to be conducted afterwards would be the primary responsibility of VCU Police, with Richmond Police providing extra investigative measures such as forensic specialists if needed.

Because VCU Police are considered a valid police agency, they can receive help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation when needed. An example being the assistance that VCU received from the FBI in the fall of 2005 to help search for missing VCU student Taylor Behl. Behl was eventually found dead, the result of being murdered.

VCU junior Mark Hernandez sees the VCU Police as a protective shield from some of the neighborhoods that surround campus.

“I see them (VCU Police) as police who think that VCU kids need protection from the hood,” Hernandez said.

VCU Police are employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia while Richmond City Police are employed by the city of Richmond. Both organizations, however, receive the same training, which makes VCU Police unique when compared to other law enforcement forces at Virginia universities.

"VCU Police is the only university police department with a fully authorized police academy that is sanctioned by the State of Virginia," says police Capt. Carlton G. Edwards of the VCU Police.

With this training comes the ability for the VCU Police to handle the same variety of crimes that Richmond Police would be called on for such as vehicle accidents, crimes against persons, larcenies, and any other type of felony or misdemeanor. VCU Police has 18 to 20 officers patrolling both campuses per eight hour shift.

"VCU Police is equipped to handle all types of crime," said VCU patrol officer Carla Middleton.

On some occasions both Richmond Police and VCU Police are dispatched to the same call. When this happens both organizations will work together to solve the issue at hand.

"VCU Police and Richmond Police are like partners," said Middleton.

While the VCU Police jurisdiction falls on areas related to the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, students may contact VCU Police for any problems that occur either off campus and if need be, VCU Police will direct them to the proper authorities.

Beat Story #3:Trespassing on VCU's Campuses

Virginia Commonwealth University’s location in the heart of Richmond not only attracts people to its campuses for work, study and play, but also trespassing.

Take the example of the young man escorted out of the James Cabell Library March 2007 for allegedly masturbating in public. VCU Police later warned him that any future contact with him on campus would result in arrest, according to a VCU Rumor Mill post by Chief Willie B. Fuller of VCU Police on the VCU Student Government Association message board.

At the end of 2006, there were 242 cases of trespassing investigated by the VCU Police. As of April 16, 2007, 65 cases have been investigated.

Pamely Lepley, director of VCU University News Services, says that whenever there is an event that could affect the image of VCU, the first priority is not suing the media to put a “spin” on the event, but getting whatever information is needed out to the VCU community to keep them safe.

“That’s always a first priority,” she said.

Some students believe that VCU doesn’t attract any more trespassers than any other parts of the city. Derek Heilmann, a 20-year-old creative advertising major and student manager at the Commons, believes that the risk of trespassers comes with living in an urban center such as Richmond.

“I think people who would trespass are already in the area anyways,” he said. “I mean, it’s a big city, there are always people like that in a big city.”

Sgt. Sean M. Ingram, of the investigations unit of the VCU Police, says a person found to be trespassing on VCU property is not always the result of committing a crime. If the responding officer to a call or an officer on patrol has prior knowledge that the person in question is not associated with the university, then a Field Interview Card is completed. The card contains specifics about the person, details concerning the location, time and date of the stop, as well as if they were advised on their conduct.

“Should the person return again without legitimate reason, after being advised on trespassing and another VCU officer encounters this individual, they can be arrested for trespassing after being forbidden to do so,” he said.

Ingram says that ultimately, the decision on if someone is on campus legitimately is left to the responding officer, after determining if the person is a visitor to the campus who needs help, or someone who is lost.

“However, if an officer encounters a person at 1 a.m. in a certain area, there is reason to question why they are there,” he said.

Ashley Gaines, a 20-year-old exercise science major, believes that because of the size of VCU’s campus, it would be impossible to make sure that every person on campus is either a student or has an acceptable reason for being on the campus.

“There’s nothing that can be done because its (VCU’s campuses) are so big,” she said.