Police actions spark protests in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO -- More than 400 Valparaiso University students protested recent actions by police, including officers riding aboard escort vans to keep drunken students off.\n"This is just a demonstration to show them that we're all worried about what's going on here," Matt Collins, a senior and protest organizer, said during Wednesday's protest.\nEarlier this month, University officers began riding escort vans -- the typical mode of transportation for students returning to campus after weekend parties. Several van drivers quit in protest.\nThen last weekend, a police officer entered the Sigma Pi fraternity house with a gun drawn.\nA Valparaiso city officer pulled the gun, but students were upset that University police did nothing to stop the officer, who suspected people were doing drugs in the house.\n"They should have told them to holster the gun," said Dan Logas, a freshman from Oak Park, Ill.\nUniversity spokesman Reggie Syrcle said city police department led the scene at Sigma Pi, and that the campus officers were only there as backup. But after that incident, signs complaining about the school's plans have appeared outside most of its fraternity houses.\n"VUPD: Encouraging drunk driving," read a sign outside Phi Sigma Kappa, reflecting the argument that having officers on the vans would lead to more students driving after drinking.\nCollins said a petition is being circulated that will be delivered to the Valparaiso University Board of Directors.\n"Hopefully the board of directors is going to listen to us," Collins said.\nSchool officials have said they were considering several options to improve the van service and ensure the vehicles are being used for their intended purpose on the campus of the 4,000-student private school about 20 miles southeast of Gary.