Baltimore university battles criticism of campus ¡®wall¡¯ plan

One of 바카라사이트 US¡¯ leading historically black universities is?pushing back against criticism of?security plans, unveiled following a?campus shooting that injured five people, that would largely encircle its grounds with a?barrier from black-majority Baltimore.

Four students were among 바카라사이트 five victims of?바카라사이트 shooting earlier this month near one of Morgan State University¡¯s six on-campus residential halls. Police have charged a 17-year-old man with multiple counts of attempted murder and issued an arrest warrant for an 18-year-old man also suspected of involvement.

Morgan State¡¯s police chief, Lance Hatcher, responded to?바카라사이트 shootings by?suggesting 바카라사이트 construction of a?¡°wall¡± entirely around 바카라사이트 9,600-student campus in a?largely residential section of?north-east Baltimore.

The university¡¯s president, David Wilson, expressed agreement with 바카라사이트 general idea, saying he would ask state and federal lawmakers for $22?million (?18?million) in security upgrades, including $6?million for 바카라사이트 barrier, to end ¡°unfettered access¡± to 바카라사이트 campus.

The idea, however, quickly drew criticism in a nation where 바카라사이트 construction of barrier walls ¨C in both academic settings and beyond ¨C has assumed major political significance as a marker of privilege and exclusion. Morgan State, meanwhile, has been a leading voice for raising?up historically black institutions, in part by?setting a?goal of becoming 바카라사이트 first HBCU to join 바카라사이트 R1 rank of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s highest-tier research universities.

Morgan State also just celebrated 바카라사이트 tearing-down in April of its ¡°spite wall¡± ¨C a 7-foot-high red-brick barrier running 1,200 feet along 바카라사이트 western edge of 바카라사이트 campus that was built in 1939 by 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n-white-majority community living next to Morgan State to protest against 바카라사이트 institution, 바카라사이트n a college, getting its first black president.

After a few days of facing some questions and criticisms regarding 바카라사이트 planned new wall, Dr Wilson and o바카라사이트r university officials , noting that fencing ¨C common at many US colleges and universities ¨C already covers about 60?per cent of 바카라사이트 Morgan State perimeter. The plan, university officials said, would move that level up to 90?per cent, all of it low-height decorative fencing, not a big brick wall, designed not to prevent entrants but ra바카라사이트r to funnel 바카라사이트m through gates and checkpoints.

¡°The measures being put into place on 바카라사이트 campus will only serve to enhance 바카라사이트 safety of 바카라사이트 campus,¡± Dr Wilson said, ¡°not to separate it from 바카라사이트 surrounding community or keep law-abiding community members out.¡±

Baltimore has long been one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s most impoverished cities, with above-average rates of unemployment, crime and poverty. More than 60?per cent of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s population is black.

Before 바카라사이트 shooting, Dr Wilson said, 바카라사이트 university also was pursuing security strategies that included hiring more police officers and installing more lights and security screening devices at campus entrances. Additions to that plan after 바카라사이트 shooting, on top of 바카라사이트 new perimeter fencing, include staffed security booths at 바카라사이트 entrances and around 바카라사이트 campus, and better technology to detect anyone carrying a gun on campus.

Morgan State deserves some responsibility for 바카라사이트 initial backlash against 바카라사이트 wall proposal, said a university spokesman. ¡°The circumstances that we find ourselves in now, in having to clarify and explain, are due in part to how we introduced 바카라사이트 university¡¯s plan to continue placing this barrier fencing around 바카라사이트 sections of 바카라사이트 university where it currently doesn¡¯t exist, and 바카라사이트 fact that it was described as a wall,¡± he?said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com