Home  News Repression Lawyers Guild Condemns Disciplinary Action Against SF State Activists
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Lawyers Guild Condemns Disciplinary Action Against SF State Activists |
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Written by Mark Vermuelen
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Wednesday, May 25 2005 |
Lawyers Guild Condemns Disciplinary Action Against Student Groups
SFSU Students Denied Due Process
Contact: Mark Vermuelen at 415.824.7533, Gordon Kaupp at 415.285.8091,
or Carlos Villarreal at 512.507.7700.
The National Lawyers Guild of the San Francisco Bay Area (NLG) is condemning
a decision to discipline two student groups at San Francisco State
University (SFSU) for protesting military recruiters on their campus this
past March. The students were never given an opportunity to adequately
answer the charges against them, and SFSU administrators are exercising
selective enforcement. NLG leadership is appalled and urges administrators
to reexamine this process and the University's priorities.
"San Francisco State ignored communications from NLG attorneys representing
these student groups and then held a hearing that denied students a proper
opportunity to present their case," said NLG attorney Mark Vermeulen. "The
process did not meet basic due process requirements and was completely
unprofessional."
The Student Organization Hearing Panel determined yesterday that the
International Socialist Organization (ISO) and Students Against War (SAW)
will receive no funds for the 2005-2006 academic year and will face
suspension for any further violation of campus demonstration policy.
This decision was in response to a protest on March 9 of this year during a
career fair on the SFSU campus. Members of ISO, SAW and other organizations
held a peaceful protest against the presence of military recruiters that
involved chanting, and holding placards. The recruiters left early - a great
success for activists who are opposed to the illegal and immoral war in Iraq
and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S. military. "This was a
rather mild protest that probably made the Air Force recruiters really
uncomfortable; but that does not justify the University's response" said NLG
lawyer Gordon Kaupp.
The NLG believes the rights of students have been violated through this
process and is concerned because there has been selective enforcement. "The
University's own police report indicates the presence of College Republicans
protesting at the career fair," said Kaupp. "This amounts to content based
discrimination which violates the First Amendment of the United States
Constitution."
The University has initiated a separate disciplinary process against the
members of the student groups as individuals by requesting "confidential
meetings" with the University's Judicial Affairs Coordinator. These
meetings are scheduled for next week and the NLG will be monitoring the
process very closely. "It is appalling that SFSU would spend so much time
and energy railroading these students, while they allow recruiters access to
their campus in violation of their own nondiscrimination policy," said NLG
Executive Director Carlos Villarreal. "SFSU administrators need to examine
their priorities. They ought to be more supportive of free speech
activities and less supportive of anti-gay recruiters on their campus."
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