Posted by Ben Brucato on June 20, 1998 at 18:59:16:
In Reply to: SUPPORT KENT STATE STUDENTS posted by NEWS SERVICE on May 30, 1998 at 00:08:34:
Continuing the Repression of Student Activism: Hearing for Internal Charges Set for 4 Kent State Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- KENT STATE CONTINUING THE REPRESSION OF STUDENT ACTIVISM: HEARING FOR INTERNAL CHARGES SET FOR FOUR KENT STATE STUDENTS
OPEN LETTER FROM BEN BRUCATO -- BACKGROUND AND CALL FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO BE INTRODUCED AT HEARING
PLEASE FORWARD
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"I have been locked by the lawless. Handcuffed by the haters. Gagged by the greedy. And, if i know any thing at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken down." -Assata Shakur from "Affirmation"
Friends, comrades, defenders of social justice,
On Monday, June 22, 1998, at 2:30 p.m., the Office of Judicial Affairs will begin hearing the case of Kim Larson, Ted Bowen, Nathan Solinsky, and myself. Kent State University and the Kent State Police Department are continuing their attempt to place disciplinary sanctions on us, as student activists, for seeking information and wishing to speak with KSU President Carol Cartwright on an issue of urgent importance on March 14.
For five months, beginning at the first public knowledge of the intention of the administration to move Vice President Nancy Scott's offices into the Student Center, students from varying organizations began a vigorous campaign to seek out information and try to stop the move. We took part in administration-created committees, met with administrators, voiced concern in local media, held public forums, aired disapproval at public meetings, and more. Even after all the work put into the issue, during finals week, all student organizations were given two day's notice to pack up their offices and move out to make way for the new administrative offices.
On March 14, students were to be out of their offices. For the days before, many students were spending hours trying to seek out infomation regarding whether or not the organizations would have space over the summer and the coming year, and other important issues facing them. No administrators or Student Center staff were able to answer their questions. Just weeks before, President Cartwright announced her responsibility for her intention to move the offices of the Vice President into the Student Center. After exhausting all avenues, six students, including myself, entered the office of the President to speak with her regarding the eviction of all student organizations from their offices housed in the Student Center. One student left soon after entering to continue seeking out information from the Student Center personnel. Several administrators and staff entered the office and spoke with the remaining five of us, never telling us to leave, but instead asking us what we wanted from the President. We conveyed our concerns calmly, and insured all that we would wait quietly until it was convenient for the President to meet with us, but insisting that we would remain in her office until that time. Within minutes, the office was flooded with Kent State Police officers. We were told that if we didn't leave, we would be arrested in three minutes. At that point, one student left, and the four of us remaining were arrested and charged with Criminal Trespassing.
The criminal case resulting from the arrest is still pending in the Kent Municipal Court, despite the overwhelming international outrage over the arrests. President Cartwright has received letters demanding she drop the charges from as far away as Scotland, Puerto Rico, and Australia, and from student organizations from Kent State to Iowa State. She has told us that she is considering dropping the charges, but has yet to make a decision, as of June 12.
The University is determined to pursue internal charges through the Office of Judicial Affairs. We are accused of "Behavior in violation of University policies or procedures," and "Behavior deemed detrimental or disruptive to the University community, and/or prohibited by local, state, or federal law." These charges carry the potential of dismissal from the University. Charges where dismissal from the University is a consideration is rare, for instance in the case of trafficking in drugs on University property. Even drug use on University property only carries the potential of probation.
We are asking that our supporters write letters of support that we can turn over to the Hearing Officer. Those who wish to testify on our behalf should contact us as soon as possible. If you have further questions, you can contact me at brucato@bright.net (or Nathan at javanate@megsinet.net, Kim at klarson@kent.edu, or Ted at ebowen@kent.edu). For further background on the Student Center issue, please check out the Student Coalition web page at http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Campus/1595/.
Thank you and take care -- In struggle,
Ben Brucato Student Anti-Racist Action-Kent State
REMEMBER MAY 4, 1886 & 1970