Students mixed over new beat off East

The news that Duke police may soon be patrolling around East Campus has elicited a sigh of relief from some students--but consternation among those who fear the Duke badge will frequent off-campus parties.

A bill granting extended jurisdiction to the Duke University Police Department passed through the N.C. Senate and House of Representatives this summer, becoming law July 18. Under the new law, Duke police officers are allowed to spread out their regular on-campus patrols to the area surrounding East Campus.

Officials from both the University and the Durham Police Department said the new law could help free up Durham officers to patrol higher-crime areas. They also said they hoped Duke police could increase security by providing more regular patrols.

Although some students said they were glad to have an increased police presence off campus, whether it be from Duke or Durham, many said DUPD's extended jurisdiction could be a double-edged sword.

"Assuming that they really do just want to free up Durham police to work on more serious crime areas and increase safety around East, then I don't think it's a bad idea," said junior Kari Zander, who is staying in the Erwin Square Apartments until she leaves to study abroad. "But Duke police definitely have the University behind them, and I don't think anyone will be surprised if they frequently break up off-campus frat parties. Duke could get its own police to try to kill fraternity life on and off campus in a way that Durham police wouldn't be so concerned with."

The University has not yet fleshed out a final agreement with the city, but John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, said in July that Duke police would be able to respond as if they were local police officers. Whether this translates into doom for off-campus fraternity parties--at a time when Duke's social scene seems to be moving farther and farther from the center of campus--remains to be seen.

Zander said she noticed over the weekend that Durham officers were very lenient, even when faced with some students' blatant disregard for the law. She described a scene from a weekend party at which people spilled out the door of an off-campus house and into the yard. "The police showed up but didn't really do anything as far as I could see," she said. "They were talking to two kids who probably got in trouble for something, but were kind of ignoring everyone else drinking right in front of them."

Zander also noted, however, that Duke police seem to be just as lenient around West Campus on the weekends, patrolling "just in case something happened and not trying to break up the party." Senior Greg Millwater, who is living with other members of Delta Phi Alpha--formerly Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity--on Watts Street, agreed that Duke police tend to be lenient on West Campus.

"They tend to look the other way, as long as you're safe," he said. "But maybe they won't do the same when you're off campus and outside Duke's walls."

Some students thought it necessary to distinguish between Duke police and University administration. In fact, although many saw the University's deal with the city as a way in which the University will try to exert more control over students' lives, even off campus, they also noted that their experiences with Duke police have been mostly positive.

"I've always found Duke police officers to be very reasonable--much more reasonable in every situation than the administration has been," said senior Mark Boyd, who is living with other members of Eta Prime--formerly Kappa Sigma fraternity--on Watts Street. "Clearly the administration is trying to crack down on fun in the traditional sense, but from my experience, Duke police officers aren't just minions of the administration, and they tend to think for themselves."

Boyd added that Duke police will not be able to crack down on legitimate gatherings. "If you're not breaking the law, there's only so much they can do, which I'm sure the administration considers unfortunate," he said.

Still, many students said that extended jurisdiction for Duke police may at least help security or bolster students' sense of security when off campus.

"DUPD on West doesn't ever really try to stop people from partying, so I don't think having them driving around on the streets off East would really stop people from partying normally, and they may feel more comfortable walking home," said junior Jessica Ward, who lives on West Campus. "I think off-East-Campus patrols are a good idea, not only because it will give DUPD something worthwhile to do with their time other than stalk students parking illegally, but because that area is so much closer to the actual city of Durham."