New Community Advisory Board formed to address students’ concerns about policing on campus

by CINDY LY

Staff Writer

On Nov. 2, University President Troy Paino announced the formation of a new advisory Board as part of the continuing work of the UMW Police Community Advisory Panel (CAP) process. The Community Advisory Board (CAB) aims to educate the student body about campus safety and policing and improve communication and trust between the UMW Police and community members. The Board met for the first time on Nov. 8.

According to Juliette Landphair, vice president for Student Affairs and interim chair of the Community Advisory Board, members of the Board will include “will serve as a bridge between the campus community and UMW Police.”

Landphair continued, “The Board will develop a set of shared recommendations to reflect bias-free and inclusive policing policies. We plan to continuously review and assess the effectiveness of those policies and procedures, while also actively working to ensure alignment with accreditation standards.” 

The CAB consists of a mix of eight faculty, staff, students and UMW police officers. The Board will meet at least twice per semester, but members may call additional meetings. 

At their first meeting on Nov. 8, members discussed “the history of policing on the campus,” said Nahjah Wilson, a freshman political science major and student member of the Board, who was selected to serve by SGA President Brianna “Breezy” Reaves. The group also set goals and discussed how they will communicate with the campus community. 

One of the Board’s short-term goals is “to fully understand the policies, work together and be able to have conversations,” Wilson said. “This will be a way to understand the disconnect between police and the students.”

The Board solicited members through governance structures, such as the University Faculty Council, University Staff Council, SGA and Residence Life, which recommended members to serve on the Board. According to Landphair, each member will serve one year but can decide to remain on the CAB for up to three years.

When asked how students, other than those on the Board, can participate or provide any insights, Landphair said that the Board will be reviewing surveys about campus safety.

“The student voice matters in all that we do at Mary Washington,” she said. “Campus safety is incredibly important not just to students but to their families as well. I acutely understand this as the parent of a college student.”

Even though the Board has only met once as of publication, Wilson is hopeful that the CAB will change student experience for the better. 

“This hopefully will be a positive change that will help make the school safer,” she said. “I would love to make a way for students to contact me to be able to give their input. We are here to bridge the gap between the police and the students.”

Wilson further explained the reasons why she believes the university needs to strengthen its commitment to community policing.

“The reason the Police Community Advisory Panel was formed was because of the protests that happened and the way the campus police, as well as the local police, dealt with it,” she said. “So I think that the safety, as well as the way that students feel towards the police, has shown that there needs to be strengthening on that front.” 

Sterling Barbett, a senior theatre and communication and digital studies double major and president of the Asian Student Association, is optimistic that the CAB will benefit students, but he is still unsure of the direction that the Board is heading towards.

“Ms. Joanna Raucci has said that her presence on the Board is to help students be heard, and to know that there is faculty that represents students, in addition to students representing other students, is very empowering,” said Barbett. 

“However, I don’t know specifically how it will benefit students, even after reading the material, for I cannot fathom what the outcomes may look like,” he continued. “I feel like myself and many others on campus are unaware of these pushes for change, and therefore do not notice any visible progress or outcomes even with the hard work that has been done.”

Junior political science major Joey Zeldin, the SGA community relations committee chair and 2023 senator, shared his opinions regarding the formation of the Board.

“From my personal experience, I think that the university may have spoken a bit louder than their actions,” said Zeldin. “That isn’t to say the university had negative or bad intentions; however, the dispersal of UMW Police force into the Fredericksburg Police force temporarily during the riots came as a shock to students. While it was a part of the UMW Police’s code, it made me think ‘Well, what else would the police officers I know at Brent House have to do in service to the Fredericksburg police?’ It broke my heart to see UMW’s own force having to push back on students, one of which was my old roommate.”

However, Zeldin believes that the UMW Police have been doing a great job in other areas, such as the Eagle Patrols.

“I know the Eagle Patrols have helped my friends get home safely in various scenarios, and I would love to see more work done to expand that program,” he said.

Zeldin has mixed feelings about the Board.

“I’m conflicted with it, but I believe that it will support and benefit students,” he said. “I think on one hand, it can’t necessarily fix every single problem that students are having with the police force, especially the agreement between UMW PD and FXBG PD.”

Nonetheless, Zeldin still believes that people who are on the CAB are capable of making the right decisions.

“I look at members like Joanna Raucci and Dr. [Danny] Tweedy, who have poured their heart and souls into this community, and Nahjah Wilson, a student who is dedicated to the cause. I am more than confident in their ideas and decisions that will go on to benefit students,” he said.

He believes that UMW is on the right track by establishing the Board to make the community’s well-being a priority.

“Holding everyone accountable, especially those in power, is the first step in getting anywhere,” he said. “It’s important we all step into the spotlight, understand where we went right and where we went wrong. Only then can we …  promote an environment that truly values diversity and inclusion and start to have discussions about our values.”