>To Dragan, I don't recall any 'police state' on any of the campuses I attended courses at but it has been a few years now. It is pretty normal for them to be present at political rallys and speeches though simply for the fact that college campuses are the ideal place for protestors and teens are emotional and can get out of hand. Update: I do recall a recent news story where local college campuses vowed to have more police 'visible' in order to deter crime. Sexual assault is far too common on campus and there is always a public outcry for more security after one occurs at any college campus and it really is all over the news.
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>Terry, most good size college campuses here now have a full-time police force just like every city. They are run pretty much the same as well.

I know that! I've seen "Urban Legend" :-) Aye, and I've nosed around Harvard in fascination and admiration. It seems US cities like Boston have a whole raft of different enforcement agencies/police (I noticed at least 3 police uniforms in Boston).

I fully comprehend the reasons you've outlined. We just don't have that sort here. Maybe a few guys in black kecks, white shirts, navy HD jumpers and black caps, doing the odd round, but no blues & twos, armament or owt like that. In fact you very seldom even see an actual cop on the city streets.

>It has evolved over time from just a security force (for crime on campus) to a real police force (due to terrorism and bomb threats and shooting incidents). No parent will pay the high cost of tuition for their child if they can't reasonably believe their child will have protection on campus. Over the years campus security has gotten a lot of negative press due to student rapes, theft, and shootings. I heard the college president on the radio this morning claiming that it appeared to him that the officers uses excessive force and an investigation was in ocurring. I'm against the grain on this one as to me it appears it was warranted (but I think an investigation needs to occur regardless because the camera only showed one view and witnesses can probably provide more accurate information), but they probably could have just dragged him
>outside by force. The film in some sections was pretty dark so perhaps they tried that unsuccessfully.
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>>>>Yeah, a cosh would have been quicker and quieter.
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>>>>Seriously I agree with you, of course, but he was ASKING for it! Even having been tased he continued his commentary "Ooh, ow, don't tase me!" I think I might have got the message and remembered that sometimes a still tongue means a wise mind.
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>>>The guy was obviously playing for his pals with the camera. Note that he's in the lens all the time, we barely get a glimpse of Kerry. This was prearranged and probably practiced.
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>>>The problem is, how did they know what will happen? They probably had a lot of experience with these paramilitaries that enforce the police state on the campus, and knew how trigger happy they are, how much does it take them to assess that someone's a disturbance. And although the guy was quite loud all the time, I haven't heard a word of warning from the black uniforms, or request to cease or anything. Their MO seems to be to just take away first, someone else will play the good cop and actually talk with the guy.
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>>>For all my years at college I have seen one single cop - he was a part time student, and dropped by to get some paperwork, which was 10m from the front door. Further than that, never ever a single one.
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>>No such thing as campus police over here. In my time at college there wasn't even a campus security service afaik.