2008 Woodie Awards
Piskura death deserves more attention from university
Dan O'Gara
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: OpEd Page
Moms, as is their nature, are prone to overreaction. Thursday, I received an outraged phone call from my very own mother, wondering if I had seen the news about the death of 24-year-old Miami University graduate Kevin Piskura, who had been tasered after an altercation outside Brick Street Bar April 19. She wanted to know what Miami had said about the incident and how severe the student backlash had been. When I told her that Miami had been absolutely silent (until a message from President Hodge was posted on Blackboard Friday) and that the student "backlash" was completely non-existent, she was shocked. And I must admit, I too am shocked by the lack of a meaningful reaction by Miami to what is a deeply troubling incident that raises a number of questions about this school and the wider Oxford community at a very fundamental level.
I understand that the Piskura family does not want anyone to rush judgment on the police officer's actions and whether the use of force was justified. I understand that in a tense situation, especially if the police officer was isolated, it is easy to feel threatened. My intention is not to pass judgment on the police officer or the events surrounding the tasing. My problem lies with the university's response. It seems to me that when a Miami alumnus dies from a police action that took place literally steps from Miami's campus, there should be a serious and prompt reaction by the school. The fight began at a bar filled almost exclusively with Miami students, any of whom could have easily found themselves in exactly the same situation as Kevin.
To dismiss the incident because Kevin was not a current student is ludicrous-any of those Miami students in Brick Street could have been and some probably have been in exactly the same situation. Instead of engaging the student body in a meaningful way, the university has decided to downplay the whole tragedy. Downplaying the incident as much as possible when legitimate questions about the relationship between the student body and local law enforcement are being raised, the university is creating a huge credibility gap with both students and parents. Regardless of whether the police officer was justified in how he used his weapon, Kevin's death should give every single member of the administration pause and lead to an extensive investigation of how police officers handle similar incidents.
I understand that the Piskura family does not want anyone to rush judgment on the police officer's actions and whether the use of force was justified. I understand that in a tense situation, especially if the police officer was isolated, it is easy to feel threatened. My intention is not to pass judgment on the police officer or the events surrounding the tasing. My problem lies with the university's response. It seems to me that when a Miami alumnus dies from a police action that took place literally steps from Miami's campus, there should be a serious and prompt reaction by the school. The fight began at a bar filled almost exclusively with Miami students, any of whom could have easily found themselves in exactly the same situation as Kevin.
To dismiss the incident because Kevin was not a current student is ludicrous-any of those Miami students in Brick Street could have been and some probably have been in exactly the same situation. Instead of engaging the student body in a meaningful way, the university has decided to downplay the whole tragedy. Downplaying the incident as much as possible when legitimate questions about the relationship between the student body and local law enforcement are being raised, the university is creating a huge credibility gap with both students and parents. Regardless of whether the police officer was justified in how he used his weapon, Kevin's death should give every single member of the administration pause and lead to an extensive investigation of how police officers handle similar incidents.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 27
Tyler
posted 4/29/08 @ 9:07 AM EST
Miami has done exactly what it should by offering a kind message of condolence to the family and waiting for the results of three investigations (OPD, Butler County Sheriff, and Butler County Prosecutor). (Continued…)
KLM
posted 4/29/08 @ 10:36 AM EST
The writer isn't asking Miami to "damn the police," he's just offering the opinion that Miami should have acknowledged the situation sooner; and I agree. (Continued…)
Molly
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:26 AM EST
What should the University have done? Should they jump to conclusions or act on incomplete, inaccurate or conflicting facts? Concerned alumni can get the story from the same place everyone else is getting it, from the newspaper. (Continued…)
KLM
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:34 AM EST
Miami has traditionally issued statements regarding incidents in which they have "no standing." There was an official statement posted on Miami's homepage when students died in an off-campus fire in 2005 and even when a recent graduate died in an accident on vacation with his family. (Continued…)
not going to miami
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:37 AM EST
As a parent of a perspective student, this event and everything I and my daughter have read have convinced us that she will attend OSU. We watched the video online and determined that this could easily have happened to any young person. (Continued…)
B
posted 4/29/08 @ 1:18 PM EST
Ask yourself this... Had the victim been an Oxford resident not currently enrolled in the University, would you call out for such a reaction? Probably not. (Continued…)
Miami Alum 1979
posted 5/01/08 @ 2:26 AM EST
I wholeheartedly concur with the views of the Mr. Dan O'Gara. The Miami Administration and the Oxford community leaders have a responsibility to voice concern over the the recent tragic event, even in the midst of the investigations. (Continued…)
OldAlum
posted 5/02/08 @ 6:23 AM EST
Besides the administration and city officials looking deeper into this situation and understanding what has happened, the students also must "think" about what has happened and put perspective on things. (Continued…)
Kathy Schear
posted 5/02/08 @ 7:33 PM EST
Dan O'Gara's excellent article is right on point: the office of the President of Miami University was negligent in not informing the Miami students of this tragedy in a timely manner and in remaining silent about it. (Continued…)
rick
posted 5/03/08 @ 9:12 AM EST
I do not know how mu alum 04 can make the statement that a taser is not a deadly force. Are you say that Kevin would still have died when he did even if the taser had not been inflicted?
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