Because of concerns over the relationship between students and police officers, the University is creating a new committee to bring student leaders and top officers together for open discussion.
Over the past two semesters, several student complaints addressed the conduct of police officers, particularly regarding their regulation of parties.
Last April, a predominantly black party on Madison Lane, sponsored by the Minority Ideas Exchange, was broken up by police officers, prompting concerns that the decision was racially motivated.
The new committee, called the Community/University Police Liaison Committee, will address student concerns about issues such as the Madison Lane party.
"The focus of this committee is to do everything we can to treat issues of concern," said Leonard W. Sandridge, University executive vice president and chief operating officer.
The committee proposal does not specify any particular concerns to address, though racial profiling is a potential issue of discussion.
University Police Sgt. Tom Durrer said the department is sensitive to issues of racial profiling.
"We are constantly being trained," Durrer said. Racial profiling "is something that all officers are concerned about."
Asst. Dean of Students M. Rick Turner agreed racial profiling does exist, though he said this does not mean police should be excluded from patrolling parties.
"We can't deny that there is racial profiling," Turner said. "However, because of the history of disturbances brought on by parties, the University cannot allow for organizations with a history of disturbances to not have a police presence."
Patricia Lampkin, interim vice president for student affairs, formed a similar, smaller committee that has held meetings since October to address more specific issues of profiling.
Fourth-year College student Kevin Stokes, a member of Lampkin's committee, said he was optimistic about the committee's work.
"The police have made a proactive effort to not seem to practice racial spotlighting," said Stokes, who also serves as the co-chairman of the Black Fraternal Council. "There is a history of racial profiling, but I believe the Charlottesville and University police are working to improve relations."
The committee aims to address the widest possible range of topics that correspond to student relations with police officials.
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