Yale University’s police union has sparked outrage by handing out to hundreds of incoming students ominous “life guide” flyers branded with the Grim Reaper — warning them of “shocking” crimes around the Ivy League campus.
The thick pamphlet, which was handed out to first-year students this week as they moved into a New Haven, Connecticut, dormitory, is almost identical to the controversial “Welcome to Fear City” notices handed out to tourists in the crime-ridden Big Apple in the 1970s.
“Good luck,” the Yale flyer warned, alongside an image of the grim reaper skull that was also used in the famous New York flyer.
“The incidence of crime and violence in New Haven is staggering, and it’s only getting worse,” a Yale police union circular warned.
“In the seven-month period ending July 23, 2023, murders doubled, burglaries increased 33% and motor vehicle thefts increased 56%.”
“However, some Yalies manage to survive in New Haven and even keep their personal property,” he said mockingly.
Grim Reaper flyers, created by the Yale police union, were handed out to first-year students at Yale University as they moved into their new dorms in New Haven, Connecticut, earlier this week. Fox 61
It then lists guidelines “prepared by the Yale Police Benevolent Association to help you enjoy your stay at Yale comfortably and safely.”
Among the list of public safety tips are to stay off the streets after 8 p.m., not walk alone, avoid public transportation, and stay on campus.
While the crime statistics were accurate, New Haven and Yale officials were quick to blast the union flyer — arguing that it was “misleading” and was only distributed to deliberately stoke fear and public safety concerns among new students and their parents.
“This weekend, the Yale Police Union, which is currently in contract negotiations with the university, distributed misleading flyers to Yale students as they moved into their residential colleges,” the school said in a statement Monday.
New Haven and Yale officials were quick to slam the union flyer — arguing that it was “misleading” and was only being distributed to deliberately instill fear among new students. Fox 61
“This pamphlet includes disturbing and inflammatory rhetoric about the safety of Yale’s campus and its hometown of New Haven, intended to instill fear among new students and their families.”
New Haven Police Board Commissioner Mike Lawlor said the pamphlet was a replica of one given to New York City tourists in 1975 warning them to stay off the streets after dark and not stray from Manhattan.
The 70s pamphlet said: “The best advice we can give you is this: Until things change, stay out of New York City if you can.”
New Haven’s top cop said the NYC flyer was widely condemned at the time as well.
“This is one of the most important days in a person’s life, in a child or a parent. And to be faced with this inflammatory and false pamphlet is actually an outrage,” said Lawlor.
The union only handed out the flyers as a contract negotiation tactic, Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell claimed.
The pamphlet said that “the incidence of crime and violence in New Haven is very high, and it is getting worse.” Fox 61
“We do not support this and, frankly, I am disgusted that they have chosen to take this path,” he said.
Police union spokesman Andrew Matthews hit back — telling Fox61 that “there is no dispute about the facts.”
“So, I think they feel an obligation to make sure students don’t become victims of crime while they attend Yale University,” Matthews said.
“They have motor vehicles chasing each other through the streets of New Haven shooting at each other. If you or your kids go to Yale, wouldn’t you want to know that?”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
