Arrest wasn’t end for UCI protesters

Marisa O’Neil

Sending letters to students, such as those who took part in a campus

protest last month, warning them of impending disciplinary action is

normal procedure, a school official said.

Letters went out to about 20 students, nine of who were arrested

on suspicion of failure to disperse after they blocked work crews

from entering a campus trailer park set for demolition this summer.

The letters, sent via e-mail, notified the students that they have

seven days to schedule an appointment with the office of student

judicial affairs, or they may face academic sanctions.

“The letters that went out were part of our standard process,”

said William Zeller, assistant vice chancellor for student housing.

“When a formal report is received by the university that there was a

violation of policy, the first step of the process is to send a

letter inviting the individual to meet with university staff for a

communication exchange.”

If the students do not reply, the letter states, students could

have their transcripts withheld or be prohibited from using campus

facilities.

Zeller would not discuss individual cases, but said that officials

would tell the students during the meeting what steps may be taken.

The letters advise students they may have an attorney or university

ombudsman with them at the meeting.

Graduate student Matthew Cardinale, who received the letter but

was not arrested, said he has contacted the American Civil Liberties

Union for advice. A representative agreed to look into the matter

and, if necessary, refer the students to a pro bono lawyer.

Cardinale is concerned that students who eventually cooperated

with campus police still received the letters. Many of the protesters

were students who will be displaced when the Irvine Meadows West

trailer park closes July 31 to make way for a parking lot.

“I don’t think there’s a basis for sending the letter to the

students who did comply when asked [by campus police] to move,”

Cardinale said. “Even the other nine students [who were arrested]

have enough to deal with -- getting arrested and finding a new home.”

The students who were arrested spent the night in the county jail

and were released the next day.

University police are meeting with UCI officials next week to

discuss whether to press charges, campus Police Chief Al Brown said.

Even if they decide not to, the district attorney’s office still

reserves the right to charge the students.

Students and university officials are meeting next Friday to

discuss options for the campus’ parking shortage and providing

affordable campus housing, which residents say the park provides.

Nearly half the park residents have accepted the university’s

offer to find them other campus housing for next year, Zeller said.

But protests will not prevent the park’s closure.

“The plan for the university is to close Irvine Meadows West July

31,” Zeller said. “Plans are moving ahead to have that happen.”