Dear Jaguars,
On February 4th, Adonis Tuggle, a Purdue University student, was choked and put against snow and ice by Purdue Police officer Jon Selke. No matter the circumstances, we do not approve of this aggressive behavior
against students. We hear you, Adonis, and we stand with you.
Purdue University is accountable for the actions of its police department, and the university needs to take a
stand against police brutality to ensure the safety of its students and the people in the community they serve.
Unfortunately, we have seen too many incidents of police officers abusing their power, especially towards
minorities, and have gotten away with their actions with no consequences. In order for us to combat police brutality, we must acknowledge the harm that police have caused, especially in marginalized communities, and
understand the collective work that needs to be done to resolve this issue.
According to the Purdue Police Department, its goal at Purdue is to "... support the University's effort to
provide a safe and secure educational environment where diverse social, cultural and academic values are
encouraged to develop and prosper." Meanwhile, the actions of a member in their police department have
proved otherwise. What happened to Adonis is unacceptable and is against what Purdue Police Department has
stated to do. If the action of a supposedly "trained" officer violates the value of the department, then we as a
collective must re-evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the training they go in, but more importantly, the
system that has structured this department. The educational environment for many Black, Brown, and Minority
students has been jeopardized by the same institution that they attend to. In order for us to build a more
equitable environment for all, we need to hold the oppressors accountable for their actions.
IUPUI Student Government and body stands in solidarity with Adonis and our students of color. We
demand:
Justice for Adonis.
An end to police brutality.
Demand accountability from PUPD.
Reform police departments in universities.
Revise the DEI, de-escalation & ethical training offered at PUPD and universities with the acknowledgment
that police have harmed minority communities.
Continue advocacy and support for students of color in universities and local communities.
Actively make changes to ensure this does not happen again.We urge Indiana University and President Whitten to release a statement on this police brutality incident.
While the incident did not happen directly on our campus, Purdue University represents part of the essence of
IUPUI. This is behavior that we do not tolerate and we expect action steps to be taken. Adonis, we stand in solidarity with you, we hear you, and we see you. We send you our support to demand
justice. Police brutality must come to an end. Black Lives Matter.
In solidarity,
USG Executive Team
Nicholas Roberts
Chinwendu Ayogu
William Bickel
Clara Pineda
Siddhant Chunchuwar
Zach Wilson
Justin Carpenter