To the Editors:
Mr. Sheth proposes a course of action that students should consider carefully. It is important that students take note of improper, excessive and violent acts by the Brunswick Police Department, which are oftentimes gratuitous displays of power specifically directed at Bowdoin students. When the police employ "curfew" tactics on students—such as retaining innocuous pedestrians, manipulating underclassmen, and terrorizing houses at night—they are targeting Bowdoin students. That the BPD uses excessive force is no longer a matter of contention, but a fact of life—their abusive attack on parents and students during a graduation gathering on Potter Street last spring is merely a notorious example of the behavior that has clearly been demonstrated this fall. The Brunswick community is responsible for censuring this type of discrimination; if they refuse to—and if they encourage discriminatory policies—students' best way to send a message may indeed be to boycott Brunswick stores, bars and restaurants. It is an undesirable maneuver, but I would encourage students to consider Mr. Sheth's recommendation if there are more reports of excessive force.
Sincerely,
Akiva Zamcheck '10
New York, NY