grassy knoll protesters are in the wrong

19 students were arrested on Friday night as part of a protest against development of a bus loop at UBC which would require the removal of a large mound of dirt covered with grass which is described as a “popular student hangout.”  I have been a student at UBC for close to six years now.  I do recognize that students use the grassy knoll regularly when the weather permits.  During the fall and winter semesters the weather very rarely permits people to sit outside on the grass.  It rains a lot in Vancouver, and it is too cold in the winter to sit outside comfortably.  Some students are protesting the removal of a large mound of dirt that rarely gets used because the outdoor spaces at UBC are rarely comfortable places to socialize or relax during most of the year.  The grassy knoll is located in a central spot for the university as a whole.  It is a great location for the bus loop as more students will be closer to their destinations when first arriving at UBC.

There should not be an inquiry into the actions that police took against the protesters on Friday, April 4, 2008.  Fire crews rightly attempted to put out a bonfire started by the protesters.  Despite the general wet weather lately, there are buildings close to the grassy knoll and I can easily see how it would be a safety hazard to have a fire going close by.  The student that tried to block the fire hose was rightly arrested.  When students then surrounded the police car holding the arrested student they were committing a crime.  They were taking steps to prevent the police officers from properly arresting someone who was helping to further a safety concern for the University and for the people in the area at the time.

I hope that the police do not issue any sort of an apology, nor should they launch any sort of inquiry over and above what their usual procedure is when making a large number of arrests at a public protest.  The student who attempted to block the fire hose should be charged and convicted.  Any other students that were aggressive during the protest and subsequent arrests should also be charged and prosecuted.  I hope that the police and the Crown attorneys realize that there are large numbers of UBC students like myself who find the grassy knoll protest to be misguided and a waste of time for everyone involved.  I have nothing against protests as long as they are peaceful and respectful.  The time for protesting development of the grassy knoll at UBC has long passed.  You have to time your opposition and protests properly to have any sort of real impact.  Some students, with apparently not enough to do academically or socially have created a great disturbance on campus by protesting the development of a bus loop in a great location for students and for the University as a whole.

Students should do what they are supposed to do: study, be politically and socially active, be peaceful and respectful and grateful for the opportunity that they have to study at a great institution.  Being politically and socially active does not mean causing undue disturbances and threats to public safety that result in the need for scarce police resources to be used to calm unruly students.