Dear Provost Thorp,

We appreciate the attention that your office has given to the issue of the Michael Brown case. We regret the loss of life of any member of our community, and we firmly believe that race and community-police relations in St. Louis are serious and important topics that we must strive to address and have a responsibility to understand.

Wash. U. College Republicans believes that open and candid discourse on these matters is crucial to making progress toward a solution. But to truly take steps towards mutual understanding, it is important that all perspectives be presented, heard and validated. Our community does not move forward when relevant voices are explicitly excluded from such discourse, even when these voices may not be easy to hear.

We are deeply concerned that this will be the case with the upcoming panel discussion of the Michael Brown case. While we are pleased to see such a diverse group of panelists that will provide various community perspectives, we are disturbed that no member of the discussion seems to have been selected to represent the experiences or challenges of the police force.

We recognize that many details of this particular case are forthcoming, and our organization does not and will not take a stance on the shooting itself. Still, we believe that representatives of the police force must be present and active in this discourse for our conversations to truly be productive. Moreover, we feel strongly that failing to represent this perspective will serve only to increase divisiveness and hostility.

The perspective of the police is not only relevant to any discussion about the case, but also undoubtedly necessary to truly understanding the underlying causes of the conflicts existing in our community. While it is easy to see the police as the “enemy” in this situation, and while we acknowledge that raw emotions and high tensions may not make for an inviting environment at this time, it is important to recognize that they are indeed public servants who put their lives on the line to keep St. Louis safe. Additionally, we feel that Wash. U. students are open-minded and mature enough to give genuine consideration to challenging, difficult and uncomfortable viewpoints.

This panel offers Wash. U. the opportunity to host a meaningful and impactful event, and we urge the Office of the Provost to include a voice that can speak to the police experience in St. Louis in a candid and respectful way, or to invite a member of the St. Louis community that has continued to stand by the police force during these challenging times. In particular, we feel that strong panelists could include St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson or the Florissant Police Department’s former Director of Multicultural Affairs Robin Clearmountain.

Again, we appreciate the attention you are bringing to this important and relevant issue, and we look forward to a meaningful, productive and comprehensive dialogue.

Sincerely,

Wash. U. College Republicans