Hearings on CCNY Students and Staff Member Charged with Crimes for Picketing Recruiting Session

So far as I can determine from eye witness reports, those charged here were guilty of nothing more than picketing this meeting, used no violence, were possibly violently used (as reported in one instance seriously head injured) by security officers at CCNY, which has an horrendous record for civil liberties violations, as detailed to me a while back by Jose Elique, former FBI and head of overall CUNY Security during a previous comparable incident at CCNY in which he made clear to me that CUNY college administrators independently control and direct the actions of their college security officers on each of our CUNY campuses. Jose was disgusted by the previous out of control events there, drafted a protest letter, himself, which he shared with me, but decided not to send out. He resigned from the job and went elsewhere a bit thereafter. Ron McGuire is, himself, a CCNY graduate who defends CUNY students pro bono in such situations. I hope our CUNY high command, including our Chancellor, Matt Goldstein, himself a CCNY grad, will intervene to stop this nonsense. Bill Crain, psychology, head of the CCNY Senate has just completed a 3 day fasting vigil protesting this incident. Both the CCNY Senate and Faculty Council have passed resolutions condemning it. All this smacks too much of the McCarthy era -- which also hit CCNY members with wild charges. Carol Lang, a grandmother, is the much respected and beloved long-time administrative assistant of the CCNY Theater Department, who was interviewed with Hadas Thier on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now. Manifestly neither of these petite women could possibly have intimidated or injured a burly CCNY security guard! I am embarrassed as a CUNY faculty member and resident of this area that such abuses are being indulged by our administrations. I am sending blind copies of this comment variously to Columbia, Brooklyn and other CUNY faculty and administrators, local political representatives, and other lists and persons. Might CB#9 also join in this protest? there is absolutely no excuse for this type of intimidation, particularly on a public college campus! I received this notice following the 4/8 preliminary hearing, but will try to update as more information arrives.

Ed Kent, Ph.D. Columbia, Philosophy, Brooklyn College, resident 440 Riverside Drive, one year teacher of the Morris R. Cohen philosophy of law course at CCNY where I had the honor of awarding the Cohen prize for exceptional work to one of my students. I also intervened behind the scenes there to protect the tenure of Leonard Jeffries and Michael Levin as an offshoot of my volunteer work for the ACLU and NYCLU.

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Friends: The disciplinary hearing for the three CCNY students suspended for protesting military recruiting on campus will begin on Friday, April 8th at 10 AM in room 1/215 in the NAC building at City College. Carol Lang, the CCNY staff member suspended following the March 9th anti-recruiting demonstration, will have her disciplinary hearing on Thursday, April 14th at 10 AM in Room 50 in Shepard Hall. Supporters are urged to attend both disciplinary hearings. Carol, and the students, Hadas Thier, Nick Gergreen and Justino Rodriguez appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court today (April 4th) where they were formally arraigned on misdemeanor charges that carry maximum penalties of one year imprisonment. Carol, Hadas and Nick are charged with 3rd degree Assault, Resisting Arrest and lesser charges. Justino is charged with Resisting Arrest and two lesser charges of disorderly conduct. Carol and the students entered not-guilty pleas and all four criminal cases were adjourned to April 21 at 9:30 AM in Part "A" on the 4th floor at 100 Centre Street. Shawn Maher of Harlem Neighborhood Defenders is representing Carol and the students in both the criminal cases and the disciplinary hearings. The students have been suspended from classes since March 9th and Carol has been suspended from her job without pay since March 11th. Over 1,000 supporters have signed petitions urging that the suspensions be lifted and the charges dropped. Supporters should try to come early to the April 8th hearing because seating is limited in NAC 1/215. The CCNY NAC building can be entered at 137th Street either at Amsterdam or Convent Avenues. The nearest subway stops are 137th Street on the 1/9 lines or 145th Street on the A-B-C-D lines. The NAC building is a short walk from either station but there are free purple busses to City College from the 137th Street and 145th Street Stations. In Solidarity, Ron McGuire

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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy) -- Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]