Op-Ed: Morse/Stiles Screw & “Yale Privilege”

Dear Readers,

I’m extremely disappointed by the reaction of Yalies to the police raid at the Morse/Stiles Screw. While we have every right to be upset about a level of police force that no human being should be subjected to, that’s not why we are upset. We have not entertained the idea that drunk Yalies can in fact be belligerent, uncooperative, and think they’re above the law. Much of the conversation surrounding this event is completely one-sided and reeks of “Yale privilege,” especially the comments posted on YDN articles. News flash: the police have been treating Americans (of color and low income status) like this for years. If you want to be mad, be mad about that. Dont be mad that our privileged Yale life has been interrupted by the real world. This is how police raids work. That’s why they’re called raids, not friendly visits. If you are under 21 and drinking, you’re breaking the law. If the police ask you to do something and you refuse, you are interfering with a police officer. Being a Yale student does not change that. When police officers see a violation of the law, they have a duty to respond, regardless of the “status” of those involved. This is not the first time the YDN has reported on police raids of New Haven clubs…why so many comments now? Where was this anger when no one from Yale was affected? If this police behavior is wrong (as indeed it may be), it’s wrong because we’re humans, not because we’re Yalies. That’s a fight I can support.

Sincerely,

Kayla Vinson

Davenport College, Class of 2011