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Wash U Fences in Its Campus, Begs Students Not to Protest Commencement

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Ahead of commencement and in the aftermath of a Pro-Palestine protest and 100 arrests, Washington University says it plans to fence in its campus and increase security.

The fence could be seen being erected around parts of campus this morning.

In an email sent to employees and students, the university says it will change how its Danforth campus can be accessed. 

“Access to the east end of campus, including Tisch Park, Brookings Hall and all buildings in the vicinity, will be restricted only to members of the Wash U community. A fence is being installed around the perimeter in order to ensure pedestrian safety and keep the area clear while crews are setting up a stage and other structures associated with the post-Commencement celebration,” the university says in its statement.

Anyone wishing to enter the campus will be required to show a university ID at one of its entrances “until further notice,” the university adds.

The morning after the university sent an announcement of these commencement preparations, Chancellor Andrew Martin sent another email, saying, “This has been a tumultuous time for our Wash U community.” 

“Unfortunately, we know it’s not over,” Martin added. “Tensions remain very high within and outside of our campus — here in St. Louis and beyond — as we all continue to grapple with serious, high-stakes world issues. There are no easy solutions.”

The email was also signed by Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Administrative Officer Nichol Luoma, and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Beverly Wendland.

Since Wash U responded to a student-led encampment with police force, more than 1,400 students, alumni, faculty and staff have signed an open letter condemning the university administration. 

Martin says in his latest email that what happened on campus on April 27 “was not good for anyone.”

“We share in the heartache of all who are struggling with the steps we felt necessary to keep our campus safe for the vast majority of our community, who follow our policies and share in our commitment to our work and our mission. We would have much preferred that those who were arrested Saturday left voluntarily when authorities told them multiple times to disperse,” Martin writes. “Unfortunately, they made a different choice, which is regrettable for us all.”

A 65-year-old Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Professor, Steve Tamari, was arrested while filming the protest. Police tackled and brutalized him so badly he was hospitalized with multiple broken ribs and a broken hand.

Wash U has a long history of supporting free expression, Martin says. But that free expression “does have its limits.”

Following Wash U’s decision to arrest protestors and bystanders at Saturday’s encampment, the ACLU of Missouri issued a statement condemning the university’s actions. The statement says Wash U’s actions “chills, curtails, and restricts expression despite the university’s claims of commitment to that very principle.”

“We do not allow anyone — particularly individuals who are not directly affiliated with Wash U — to violate our policies, create chaos, instill fear in our community, and prevent us from engaging in our regular educational activities and campus life,” Martin writes. “We stand firm in our resolve to take action when individuals inside or outside of our community do any of those things.”

Martin lists what he says policy deems acceptable and unacceptable forms of protest on campus, saying activities that “disrupt our ability to fulfill our institutional mission” are not acceptable, nor are encampments, blocking entrances or walkways or “threatening or harassing speech directed at an individual or group.” He adds, “Members of the St. Louis community are allowed to be on campus. They are not allowed to come here to disrupt our ability to learn or work, or to do harm to our community.” 

“Anyone who is asked to leave by the university or law enforcement must leave or risk disciplinary action or, potentially, arrest,” Martin writes. “This is never our first or preferred choice. We do not want to have to take this step — with anyone, but particularly our own students, faculty, and staff. We are deeply saddened that we have ended up in this position in recent weeks.”

Martin writes that the university is continuing to work through the disciplinary process for the students and staff who were suspended or placed on leave after the protest.

With commencement just over a week away, Martin then proceeds to beg students not to protest the event.

“We all are mindful that the Class of 2024 includes graduating seniors who were deprived of their high school commencement because of the COVID pandemic,” he writes. “This was unfair, disappointing, and a genuine loss to students and their families. We’re hopeful that everyone in the Wash U community will do their part to help ensure that these students in particular are able to have at least one graduation that is memorable for the right reasons.”

Students have promised to continue the protests until Wash U divests from Boeing. That includes an emergency protest for Gaza tonight at 5 p.m. at the corner of Lindell and Skinker in Forest Park.

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Fenton Man Charged in Sword Attack on Roommate

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A warrant is out for a Fenton man’s arrest after he allegedly attacked his roommate with a sword. 

Police say that on Sunday, Angelus Scott spoke openly about “slicing his roommate’s head” before he grabbed a sword, raised it up and then swung it down at the roommate. 

The roommate grabbed Scott’s hand in time to prevent injury. When police arrived at the scene, they found the weapon used in the assault. 

The sword in question was a katana, which is a Japanese sword recognizable for its curved blade. 

This isn’t the first time a samurai-style sword has been used to violent effect in St. Louis. In 2018, a man hearing voices slaughtered his ex-boyfriend with a samurai sword. His mother said he suffered from schizoaffective disorder.

As for Scott, 35, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was charged yesterday with two felonies, assault first degree and armed criminal action. The warrant for his arrest says he is to be held on $200,000 bond.

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Caught on Video, Sheriff Says He’s Ready to ‘Turn It All Over’ to Deputy

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Video of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts taken by a former deputy suggests that the sheriff has a successor in mind to hand the reins of the department over to, even as Betts is in an increasingly heated campaign for reelection. 

“I ain’t here for all this rigmarole,” Betts says in the video while seated behind his desk at the Carnahan Courthouse. “The Lord sent me here to turn this department around and I’m doing the best I can and I think I’ve done a good job. I’ve got about eight months and I’m going to qualify for my fourth pension.”

He goes on, “Right now I can walk up out of here and live happily ever after and forget about all this…and live like a king.”

The sheriff then says his wife has been in Atlanta looking at houses and that the other deputy in the room, Donald Hawkins, is someone Betts has been training “to turn it all over to him.”

Asked about the video, Betts tells the RFT, “My future plans are to win reelection on August 6th by a wide margin and to continue my mission as the top elected law enforcement official to make St. Louis safer and stronger. Serving the people of St. Louis with integrity, honor and professional law enforcement qualifications is a sacred responsibility, and I intend to complete that mission.”

The video of Betts was taken by Barbara Chavers, who retired from the sheriff’s office in 2016 after 24 years of service. Chavers now works security at Schnucks at Grand and Gravois. Betts’ brother Howard works security there, too.

Chavers tells the RFT that she was summoned to Betts’ office last week after Betts’ brother made the sheriff aware that she was supporting Montgomery. It was no secret: Chavers had filmed a Facebook live video in which she said she was supporting Betts’ opponent Alfred Montgomery in the election this fall. “Make the judges safe,” she says in the video, standing in front of a large Montgomery sign on Gravois Avenue. “They need a sheriff who is going to make their courtrooms safe.”

In his office, even as Chavers made clear she was filming him, Betts told Chavers he was “flabbergasted” and “stunned” she was supporting Montgomery. 

“I don’t know what I did that would make you go against the preacher man,” he says, referring to himself. He then refers to Montgomery as “ungodly.” 

Betts goes on to say that not long ago, he was walking in his neighborhood on St. Louis Avenue near 20th Street when suddenly Montgomery pulled up in his car and, according to Betts, shouted, “You motherfucker, you this, you that. You’re taking my signs down.”

Montgomery tells the RFT that he’s never interacted with Betts outside of candidate forums and neighborhood meetings. 

“I don’t think anyone with good sense would do something like that to a sitting sheriff,” Montgomery says.

Montgomery has had campaign signs missing and on at least two occasions has obtained video of people tearing them down. (Chavers notes that the sign that she filmed her original Facebook video in front of is itself now missing.)

One man who lives near Columbus Square says that he recently put out two Montgomery signs, which later went missing. “If they keep taking them, I’ll keep putting them up,” he said. 

Betts says he has nothing to do with the missing signs. In the video Chavers filmed in Betts’ office, Betts says that his campaign isn’t in a spot where it needs to resort to tearing down opponents’ signs.

“If you sit here long enough, a man is getting ready to come across the street from City Hall bringing me $500, today,” Betts says. “I’m getting that kind of support. I don’t need to tear down signs.”

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St. Louis to Develop First Citywide Transportation Plan in Decades

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The City of St. Louis is working to develop its first citywide mobility plan in decades, Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office announced Tuesday. This plan seeks to make it easier for everyone — drivers, pedestrians, bikers and public transit users — to safely commute within the city.

The plan will bring together other city projects like the Brickline Greenway, Future64, the MetroLink Green Line, and more, “while establishing new priorities for a safer, more efficient and better-maintained transportation network across the City,” according to the release. 

The key elements in the plan will be public engagement, the development of a safety action plan, future infrastructure priorities and transportation network mapping, according to Jones’ office.

The overarching goals are to create a vision for citywide mobility, plan a mixture of short and long-term mobility projects and to develop improved communication tools with the public to receive transportation updates. In recent years, both people who use public transit and cyclists have been outspoken about the difficulties — and dangers — of navigating St. Louis streets, citing both cuts to public transit and traffic violence.

To garner public input and participation for the plan, Jones’ office said there will be community meetings, focus groups and a survey for residents to share their concerns. The city will also be establishing a Community Advisory Committee. Those interested in learning more should check out at tmp-stl.com/

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis, whether they’re driving, biking, walking or taking public transit,” Jones said in a news release. “Creating a comprehensive transportation and mobility plan allows us to make intentional and strategic investments so that moving around St. Louis for jobs, education, and entertainment becomes easier, safer and more enjoyable.”

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