By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff
St. Louisans don’t know what to expect after the Michael Brown grand jury decision is handed down, and Forest Park officials are no exception.
But the St. Louis Community College district is preparing for possible reaction on its campuses.
“I know the (grand jury decision) is going to elicit a lot of emotion throughout the region,” said Forest Park Interim President Roderick Nunn. “We can only hope the Forest Park community responds with respect, civility and calm.”
But Nunn also has met with the Forest Park Emergency Response Team to discuss what action would be taken in case of violence.
“They understand how to defuse difficult situations,” he said.
STLCC campuses have seen peaceful protests, walk-outs and other activities in response to the Aug. 9 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.
The unarmed black teenager was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. A grand jury is deciding whether to indict Wilson.
Forest Park Chief of Police Richard Banahan said campus police officers are “prepared for every scenario.”
“We prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” he said.
Officials have designated the Forest Park courtyard as a place where students, faculty and staff can hold peaceful protests.
“Students have the right to free speech and their opinion,” Banahan said. “(But) we aren’t going to allow any physical harm to be inflicted on anybody or the facility.”
On Nov. 7, STLCC Interim Chancellor Dennis Michaelis sent an email to students, faculty and staff under the subject line “Awaiting the Grand Jury Decision.”
“I remind you that, as always, our number one priority is to provide a welcoming and safe learning environment,” he wrote.
Michaelis stated that the college has modified its emergency preparedness plan since the Ferguson shooting and had it reviewed by “external experts.”
Michaelis also outlined actions by STLCC in the past three months to deal with the Michael Brown case in a “constructive” manner.
“We have acted with care, compassion and commitment to affect positive change,” he wrote. “Our promise of diversity, of inclusion, of understanding, and of reaching out across socioeconomic and racial lines has never been stronger.”
Nunn said he “isn’t in the business of forecasting,” but he has been trying to gauge potential student reaction to the grand jury decision.
“We spent time talking to student government (and) African American Male Initiative and student leaders to understand how they were feeling about Ferguson and the responses they expect,” he said. “I walked away feeling sure that they understood the type of behavior we expected from students.”
In his letter, Michaelis encouraged students to sign up for STLCC text alerts by texting “Follow STLCCAlert” to 40404 so they can keep informed about campus incidents, threats or closings.