Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey, has several police departments on their payroll. This year alone, they budgeted $4,402,306.19 towards them. These millions of dollars should go to bettering the University rather than policing its students.

For example, they only allocated $338,309 for the Counseling Center, which students are in constant need of. This money could be directed to mental health professionals, healthcare, upgrading buildings and dorm rooms, and resources for properly educating the student body on current events. There are countless opportunities to use this money in a better way.

The police uphold a racist system, and Stockton needs to defund them and take a stand to ensure the student body is trusting of them. Otherwise, trust will stay broken and students cannot feel safe in a place where the police roam the halls everyday. It is in the University's best interest to show how much they care for their community by taking action, not only issuing a statement. Our voices must be heard.