The actions taken by Fairfield Police and hired security during Clam Jam generated a tremendous reaction from the student body. I would like to synthesize the major concerns related to this incident. I won’t take credit for highlighting these concerns as many of my fellow Stags have expressed them already. However, I felt it was important to compile them and express them in a single composed piece.
The authorities demonstrated on Saturday, April 26, 2014 that their primary goal was to halt the movement of individuals from public property to Lantern Point property and vice versa. In attempting to achieve this goal with little regard for other important factors and consequences, their actions demonstrated negligence towards the safety and well-being of both residents of Lantern Point as well as other non-resident Fairfield University students. These actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) All main entrances and exits on the Lantern Point property were chain locked and barricaded, violating fire code. If a fire occurred in this confined space and spread, there would be no way to quickly and safely evacuate. Instead, residents would be trapped behind the locked and chained gates … or perhaps pray that the person with the key to unlock them was close by.
2) Students that were told to leave the premises were forced by authorities on horses (many of whom were not able to effectively control the actions of their horses) into the streets. This created a hazardous situation for both students and vehicles on the road.
3) Authorities prevented residents from leaving or even entering their own home/property, forcing residents to feel like hostages. This occurred even if they were not participating in the event or could validate and provide evidence that their home was on the property by showing the resident wristband distributed by Lantern Point for this very purpose.
Resident of Lantern Point Jen Tolland ‘14 was one of the many individuals to experience not being let onto her property. She explained, “I was walking on the Lantern Point path when one of the G-Force officers asked to see my resident wrist band, so I showed it to him. He said it appeared to be tampered with and took it off my wrist. He told me I needed to leave the area. I explained to him that it was not tampered with, I lived on Lantern Point, and provided my address. He refused to allow me to stay on the property.” Needless to say, Jen was not able to get back into her home anytime soon that day.
Fairfield Police also threatened Lantern Point residents that if they did step outside of their home and onto the Lantern Point’s deck, they would be arrested … but for what?
The authorities demonstrated that they were unlawfully depriving individuals of their own liberty to move. Furthermore, any arrests made to residents that chose to walk on private property that they belonged to would have been a false arrest because there was no reasonable cause or premise to justify this action.
These events that occurred were especially upsetting, given the friendly and harmless demeanor of the residents and student body and the nature of the event itself.
Senior Allyson Frese, a resident at Lantern Point, said: “I understand the concept of protecting the law. However, when I tried to enter the property and explain that I lived there, they were extremely condescending and told me that they didn’t care what proof I had that I lived there. I think that what triggers anger and frustration from the residents is the disrespectful and provoking manner in which they are treating individuals.”
The actions taken by the authorities created more negative consequences and escalated the event, rather than helping to provide and facilitate a safe environment. My purpose in writing this piece is to express hope that this will not be repeated. In the future, I hope that security measures are appropriate and properly designed with public safety in mind and that residents will be more aware of their rights so that that they are not violated again.
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