Wesleyan

Students Charged In Wake of Peaceful Wes Protest

Remember this video? Wesleying is now reporting that 5+ students involved in the protest, and identified by the video cameras held by security officers in the footage, have received the following summons:

Two participants on ResLife have been put on probation.

In response, Wesleying also reports that the WSA (Wesleyan Student Assembly) has filed a complaint in response to the charges, in which they cite Regulation 12 of the school’s Non-Academic Conduct Code:

“Disruptions—The following “ground rules” for political freedom on campus are excerpted from the booklet “Academic Freedom and Civil Liberties of Students in College and University,” published by the American Civil Liberties Union in 1970.

Ground Rules. Picketing, demonstrations, sit-ins, or student strikes, provided they are conducted in an orderly and non-obstructive manner, are a legitimate mode of expression, whether politically motivated or directed against the college administration, and should not be prohibited. Demonstrators, however, do not have the right to deprive others of the opportunity to speak or be heard, take hostages, physically obstruct the movement of others, or otherwise disrupt the educational or institutional processes in a way that interferes with the safety or freedom of others.”

In order to argue that the student’s compliance with Regulation 12 exempts them from the accused violatuions of regulations 14 and 15:

“The alleged violation of Regulation 14 refers to the warnings and instructions given to these accused students by Public Safety officers on 23rd September, while the violation of Regulation 15 refers to the entrance into a closed meeting, the Executive Session of the Board. However, these actions, which can be clearly identified as a demonstration and sit-in, are protected as a legitimate mode of expression under Regulation 12, as these actions did not interfere with the safety and freedom of others.”

The Associated Press has picked up on the story.