Put your hands on the hood
Report on Texas’ racial profiling problem underscores the need for reform
M any black and Hispanic Texans know the
frustration of being pulled over by the
police not for something they did, but
teause of what race they are. They know the
Imiliation of being the recipients of unwarranted
searches. They are familiar with the anger of
blowing that it is likely to happen again. And now,
areport released Feb. 3 confirms what many
minorities in this state have known for all their
lives: black and Hispanic drivers are more likely to
[estopped and searched by law enforcement offi-
jnsthan their white counterparts.
The report, titled “Racial Profiling: Texas Traffic Stop
jidSearches,” was prepared for the Texas Criminal
listice Reform Coalition, the American Civil Liberties
ton of Texas, the League of United Latin American
Citizens of Texas and the Texas State Conference of
\AACP Branches. Although critics of the report have
old problems with the method of data collection and the
Jita itself, the conclusions of the report should lead to
itform within Texas Law Enforcement Agencies that elim
inates racial profiling.
The research found large discrepancies in black and
Hispanic stop-and-search rates when compared to the
libers of whites. Indeed, page nine of the report states,
'.typroximately six of every seven law enforcement agen
ts in Texas reported higher search rates of blacks and
latinos than of Anglos following a traffic stop."
Black drivers were 1.6 times more likely than white
iivers to be searched. Latinos were 1.4 times more likely
tan white drivers to be searched. Locally, both blacks and
Hispanics were more than three times as likely to be
searched in Bryan and more than two times as likely to be
searched in College Station, according to The Battalion.
It was inevitable that such findings would be contested
bf law enforcement officials across Texas. Hans
\larticiiic, president of the Houston Police Officer’s
Onion,wrote an opinion piece in The Houston Chronicle
siatinp,“These racial profiling numbers do not take into
account the economic and social conditions of the areas
where many officers are assigned to work. Every indicator
shows higher crime rates in the black and Hispanic sec
tions of Houston.”
Granted, the lack of economic prosperity in some black
anlllispanic communities may lead to a higher crime rate
wttintum could lead to more stops and arrests. But
tedoesn't explain the disproportionate number of stops
(fdfflorities in white neighborhoods. Blacks were more
tin three times as likely and Latinos were 2.8 times as
ielf to be searched in Alamo Heights, which is a pre-
taiinately white neighborhood in San Antonio, according
toThe San Antonio Express-News.
While this racial profiling report is one
of the best tools Texans now have to exam
ine the prominence of racial profiling, there
remains much work to be done. As already
alluded to, many law enforcement officials
deny there is a problem at all. But too many
minority Texans would disagree with that.
Even if it were someday concluded that
minorities were not being searched at dis
proportionate rates, the perception of many
minorities that police are out to get them is
a problem itself that must addressed.
The issue of data collection must also be
addressed. The report mentions the 2001 Racial
Profiling Data Collection Law that requires Texas
law enforcement agencies that perform pedestrian
and traffic stops to collect data on the race of those
being stopped. All agencies must submit at least sim
ple but shallow data — known as Tier 1 data — con
cerning the stop. This data includes the race of the
motorist stopped, whether a search was conducted,
whether the motorist gave consent to the search and
whether that person was arrested. Tier 2 data —
which includes whether probable cause existed to
conduct a search — is much more comprehensive
and allows for more analysis and a better chance at
insight into the racial profiling matter.
Unfortunately, many law enforcement agencies
are exempted from collecting Tier 2 data because of
a large loophole that must be closed. All law
enforcement agencies that have installed audio visu
al equipment in their vehicles are exempt from hav
ing to collect Tier 2 data, which should make sense
to most. What does not make sense is exempting
those agencies that have applied for funding for
audio visual equipment — regardless of whether
they received it or not.
Since most Texas agencies fall under these two
exemptions, the majority of them do not report Tier 2
data, according to the report. This loophole must be
closed immediately, and all law enforcement agen
cies in Texas should be required to collect Tier 2
data. This report should provide the impetus to
change certain aspects of law enforcement in Texas.
Perhaps these reforms will lead to a day when
minority motorists will feel a sense of safety and jus
tice when they see officers approaching.
K
Collitis Ezeanyim is a senior
computer engineering major.
COLLINS
EZEANYIM
French headware ban
advances secular ideals
S tarting next
September, chil
dren attending pub
lic schools in France will
most likely not be
to wear certain
religious garments. This
is due to a ban passed on
10 by France’s
lower house of parlia
ment which is expected
toeasily clear the French Senate.
The ban is designed to reduce
amic fundamentalism by tar
ing women’s head coverings,
led“hijabs.” However, it will
ultimately anger many Muslims
and incite radical and dangerous
■. Furthermore, the word
ing of this ban discriminates
against Jewish and Christian
ren and is nothing more
a way to advance France’s
secular ideals.
Many Muslims believe Allah
nmanded women to keep their
Us covered, and it is extremely
to them that this rule be
For others, the issue at
is modesty. The regulations
unclothing in many Muslim com-
existso that women will
not be seen as merely sexual
objects. Many devout, traditional
women believe women in
America and Europe have sold
their bodies for the sexual pleas-
ireofmen.The Muslim girls in
French schools should not be
forced to expose themselves in
This would be somewhat
like forcing American girls to go
to school wearing only their
undergarments.
Richard Stadelmann, A&M
professor of philosophy and reli-
, said that although he does
not consider himself an expert on
" issue, he believes the ban is
reasonable. Stadelmann said he
believes the head coverings might
make running the schools more
difficult because it would
not be easy to identify
many of the female stu
dents, especially if the girl
is wearing a veil that
shows only her eyes.
While it is reasonable to
forbid the girls from wear
ing masks, many head cov
erings do not cover the
entire face. To ban all
types of head covering is discrim
inatory and takes away the girls’
right to peacefully practice their
religion. Furthermore, just as it is
erroneous to assume that the typi
cal Christian poses a safety threat
to homosexuals, it is wrong to
assume that the typical Muslim
poses a national security threat,
even if a sizable number of such
people exist in a given area.
The ban... will
ultimately anger
many Muslims and
incite radical and
dangerous
behavior.
The vague wording of the ban
can apply to more than just the
hijab. According to The
Associated Press, the text of the
bill says, “in schools, junior high
schools and high schools, signs
and dress that conspicuously
show the religious affiliation of
students are forbidden.”
Theoretically, this includes
Jewish skull caps and Christian
crosses too. Ultimately, this ban
is nothing more than an act
designed to discourage and limit
religious practices in France.
The culture and government
of France have become increas
ingly secular in the country’s
recent history. While there is
nothing wrong with that in itself,
the problem is that from this sec
ularism comes widespread anti-
religious sentiments, and this
leads to discrimination. Students
have the right to visibly express
their religion; the French govern
ment should not try to destroy
that right.
Our own constitution guaran
tees us the right to practice any
religion we choose. The framers
of the U.S. Constitution believed
the rights in the Bill of Rights
apply to all people; in fact, many
men at the time believed it was
unnecessary for these principles
to be recorded because they were
so basic. U.S. leaders should
help protect the rights of French
citizens and encourage the
French Senate members not to
pass this ban.
The ban, which has already
upset many in the Islamic com
munity, will ultimately increase
hatred toward western nations
and cause a rise in fundamental
ism; this is the complete opposite
of its goal. It is quite possible
that this will both directly and
indirectly cause violence to
increase.
Historically, Islam is not a reli
gion of peace. However, neither is
Christianity or Judaism. In the
past, people have had to use vio
lence to secure their rights and
freedoms, religious or otherwise.
Hopefully that will not have to
happen here.
If French leaders truly care
about the safety and rights of their
citizens, the French Senate should
not pass this ban.
Cody Sain is a junior
philosophy major.
MAIL CALL
SGA should choose to
support diversity rally
In response to a Feb. 13 news article:
I am extremely disappointed that our
elected officials have decided to pull out of
the diversity rally this Wednesday.
Every choice that we make reflects our
priorities, and the fact that the SGA would
rather descend into political squabbling
rather than support a general rally for diver
sity is a sad statement of its priorities.
Perhaps if diversity is as important to
the Aggie campus as both sides of the
rhetoric claim it to be, we can make it a
priority the next time we have an SGA
election.
Adam Sdriver
graduate student
Watkins cannot compete
at the collegiate level
In response to a Feb. 16 mail call:
Being born in Indiana, I was raised
watching basketball with the same passion
Aggies show to football. While here at
A&M, I saw Reed Arena completed and
hoped the new focus on basketball would
bring the quality I was used to seeing. A
conference basketball game at Duke,
Kentucky or Indiana has the same energy
as Kyle Field does during football because
of the quality of their teams.
Coach Watkins has shown he is not able
to coach at that level. I have seen Indiana
high school teams with better fundamental
skills make smarter game-time decisions
than our men’s team often does.
If our players don’t come to A&M with
this understanding of the game, then it’s
up to our coaches to instill these qualities
in them. It’s a shame our athletes, who
play so hard, are not being coached in
ways that would give them chances to win
in conference.
It’s not only about winning. Coach Blair
has done more for the women’s program in
a few months than Coach Watkins has
done with the men’s team in his whole
tenure. The wins will come for Coach Blair,
but not for the men until we get a new
coach.
Judd Moody
Class of 1999
Aggies should unite and
celebrate differences
In response to Jon Steed’s Feb. 16 column:
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Jon Steed of The Battalion for con
demning the physical abuse of a fellow
Aggie. The lack of outcry about this inci
dent on campus was deafening for those
who love peace. I am glad to see The
Battalion using its influence to be a positive
voice of Texas A&M.
Yet the article only focused on how this
was wrong because the victim was homo
sexual. What was more shocking to me is
how Aggies will beat up other Aggies. We
are supposed to be part of the same fami
ly. Yet to some people, being an Aggie is
more about your sexual or political orienta
tion rather than enrollment in the
University. It is these harmful and blatantly-
discriminatory ideas that are the true threat
to the 21st century Aggie Spirit. We must
come together as a group and celebrate
our differences, or all that talk about being
an Aggie family is just cheap rhetoric.
Jonathan Smith
Class of 2005
Not all forms of fashion
'linked to the bar scene'
In response to the Feb. 16 Campus Couture:
I just read an article that makes me feel
as if fashion perceptions have moved from
creativity to popular sellout subcultures.
Your writer for Campus Couture has missed
the simplistic meaning of fashion: clothes. I
love the way she notes ‘Texas A&M may
not be the most diverse school.” Is that
fashion she is talking about or culture?
I am Hispanic, and I think my Levi's are
OK. Where does she hang out? There
are a lot of international students who
express true personality fashionably and
intellectually. Not all fashion motives are
linked with the bar scene or roommates.
Where are the pictures of people being
real? Not in your article. It's possible that
the constant comparison of A&M to
Austin is rooted in dissatisfaction. Look at
your peers and write about what is real
and not what sells. Report on fashion and
not the mass-produced stigma which you
are feeding.
Moni Briones
Class of 2001