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So, this tweet sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole, which ended with me being even more pissed off at UNC than I was initially.https://twitter.com/unrulybabyhair/status/1069674586059493376 …
The mobile force isn't mentioned in the main report, but it is one of the more concrete proposals mentioned in the appendices. And if you thought the main report was infuriating, just wait until we're done with this. I'll link the appendices below. https://bot.unc.edu/files/2018/12/12_03_18-Report-Appendices.pdf …
The relevant appendices here are A-1 and A-2, which discuss the findings of the "public safety panel." First, let's look at the member of this panel. The middle 3 seem to be normal cops, so I'll focus on Chris Swecker and Edward Reeder.pic.twitter.com/AX5R9vphaj
Chris Swecker is up first. He's listed as an attorney and former FBI Assistant Director. More recently, however, he was appointed to chair the Governor's Crime Commission by Pat McCrory. Now, he writes articles for Fox News. Not a great start.pic.twitter.com/gyh4QiDoXC
To Edward Reeder. Most of his military resume seems pretty normal, except for the inclusion of his service in El Salvador during the Salvadorian Civil War, specifically during the time the US was supporting Salvadorian President Duarte, who was known for his use of death squads.pic.twitter.com/QilDj196lG
Reeder's current group, Five Star Global Security, is your typical former military security operation. It's super militaristic and dumb. As a bonus, here are some screens from the video on their homepage. The last 30 seconds are entirely of cell phone man, completely silent.pic.twitter.com/9xm1s8q2xC
Perhaps not the most well-rounded group, including the two completely baffling choices. Maybe they can still come up with something good? Nope. Any remaining hopes that for this report are gone by the 2nd paragraph.
The 2nd paragraph starts with the observation that campus protests are now violent. It cites the Executive Director of the IACALEA, Sue Riesling, talking about how protesters are now OK using violence to accomplish their goals.pic.twitter.com/O9Yz2hmuAe
That quote comes from here: https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-Can-Campus-Police-Learn/241261 …. So, a few problems here. First, that direct quote seems to have been about the Nazis in Charlottesville, who were not students and were, you know, Nazis. Not a great comparison to students protesting Silent Sam.
So, maybe Riesling is alright? No. Her main quotes in the article defend the Charlottesville police and attack the "heavy-handed actions by counter-protesters." As a reminder, this is the panel's main proof that college campuses have become dangerous. Not that convincing.
The next few paragraphs say that UNC is in a particular dangerous place because of Silent Sam and that if Silent Sam was moved back into a public area it would be "under siege." Fair enough, I suppose.
In terms of the statue itself, they suggest the single-purpose building that has gotten a lot of media attention. But they've identified a bigger problem than just the statue: UNC is dangerous! So what is their solution?
"A 40-person system wide mobile force that was estimated to cost $2,000,000 annually and require the expenditure of $500,000 for equipment costs." The reasons given for creating this force include "intelligence gathering." Not ominous at all.pic.twitter.com/28oW13haC9
These costs aren't included in the $5.3 million figure that's been in the media, by the way. If the panel's recommendations were adopted in full, you'd have an initial cost of almost $6 million and a yearly cost of $3 million, just to protect a statue.
In conclusion: UNC hired a bunch of cops, led by a Fox News contributor. They recommended enshrining Silent Sam and hiring more cops to crack down on students and defend white supremacy. Their only evidence comes from a cop who backed Charlottesville PD and attacked UVA students.
This is what I mean when I say that higher education is invested in white supremacy
@threadreaderapp please unroll!
Hello you can read it here: Thread by @BennOttenNC: "So, this tweet sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole, which ended with me being even more pissed off at UNC than I was ini […]" https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1069771472510570496.html …
Talk to you soon. 
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