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Peter Bibring, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, spoke Wednesday at a workshop

As part of Campus Safety Awareness Week, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union and Student Legal Services came to campus Wednesday night to speak to students about their civil liberties and available legal services on campus.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council and the Muslim Student Association collaborated in organizing the event, which was entitled, “Know Your Rights.”

Peter Bibring, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, mainly focused on how one should behave in police encounters and what is considered police misconduct. Afterward, Liz Kemper, director of SLS, discussed the resources on campus and what sort of cases the department of student affairs handles.

Bibring began the evening by advising students on what to do if stopped by the police.

“You need to think carefully about what you say, because whatever you say to the police could be used against you,” he said. “Don’t resist arrest. The first thing you should do is find out if you’re being detained or under arrest, because if not, then you can go.”

Bibring brought up the Taser incident of last quarter, when a student of Iranian descent was shocked five times after failing to present his BruinCard in Powell. He discussed when police can use excessive force, how Tasers work and the controversial issues surrounding their aftereffects.

“Police can use some pain compliance on you if you’re passively resisting. Tasers are most dangerous when they’re deployed multiple times,” Bibring said. “Officers need to be properly trained, and there needs to be careful monitoring of Taser research.”

He also mentioned the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department do not allow Taser use, so it is not likely students will encounter them elsewhere in Los Angeles.

“I’m glad that a representative from ACLU came to tell us that we have the right to ask questions,” said Carlos Saucedo, a USAC general representative. “I think a lot of us see the police as an institution not to be reckoned with.”

Kemper shifted the discussion to how SLS is meant to advise students and help them explore their options.

“We provide personal, confidential assistance to students and negotiate on the students’ behalf,” she said.

SLS covers cases on various topics such as student harassment and discrimination, housing issues, tenants’ rights, auto-related matters, identity theft, employment, family law, illegal downloading and insurance, she said.

SLS is located in the basement of Dodd Hall, and they charge $30 per case, which is charged to a student’s BAR account.

Gregory Cendana, USAC internal vice president, said he hoped the workshop would educate students so they can utilize resources.

“After the Taser incident, students have been concerned about what their rights are and what acts are appropriate. Hopefully this will shed light on the resources available and what they can do.”