Two students charged with violating the University conduct code during November's CIA protest expect to find out today whether the University Hearing Board will subject them to disciplinary action.

In an impromptu news conference held after a hearing yesterday, defendant Travis Parchman (senior-computer science) said he and Jessica Stern (sophomore-liberal arts) had been instructed to call the Office of Conduct Standards to learn the board's decision, which will result from two days of testimony.

A hearing held Jan. 31 lasted five hours and was continued yesterday to hear all witnesses' testimonies.

Parchman and Stern face charges of two counts of physical abuse, one count of failure to comply with University officials, one count of disorderly conduct, one count of unauthorized entry or use of University facilities and one count of disrupting the operation of the University, said OCS Director Donald T. Suit after the initial hearing.

The charges stem from a Nov. 21 incident in which Parchman and Stern were among about 22 students who protested CIA recruitment on campus, and confronted students scheduled to interview with the agency in the Career Development and Placement Services offices in McAllister Building. University Police Services officers were stationed at the building and videotaped parts of the protest.

In summarizing yesterday's hearing for the media - not permitted to observe the event because of board rules - Parchman lambasted both the system through which his case has been heard and the government organization he protested against.

"University witnesses contradicted themselves right and left," Parchman declared, stating the board was ignoring the "political nature of the charge," and that the technical charges against the protesters were questionable.

"They just want to . . . quash political dissent at Penn State," he said regarding his opinion of OSC.

University Public Information Director Bill Mahon declined to comment on the hearing afterwards, explaining the Buckley amendment prohibits him and other University officials from releasing information about a specific disciplinary proceeding.

The hearing board, which began the public proceedings at about 1:45 and ended them shortly after 5:10, immediately entered into private deliberations after hearing witnesses' testimonies.

While this meant Suit and other University officials were unavailable to comment on yesterday's hearing, Roger Williams, executive director of University relations, did confirm a witness count. He said the University called three witnesses - Mahon, who also testified during the first round of discussions, Director of University Safety David Stormer, and Theresa M. Morrison, an employee who witnessed the protest. Stormer brought a videotape of the protest, but the board did not view it, Mahon said.

The students called on four witnesses including Paul Sample, the student protester who received automatic disciplinary dismissal when he failed to respond to a 10-day deadline notice regarding OCS's charges. Other witnesses included Andrew McInerney (graduate-mathematics) and Peter Stine (graduate-astronomy).

During the first hearing, the University called on four witnesses, while the defendants called on five.

The witnesses testified before the board consisting of faculty members Donald Leslie (chairman,) Zane Smilowitz and Chester Gratt, and students Wayne Hudders (senior-mineral economics) and Paula Scharff (senior-political science.) University community members can observed OCS hearings, but space was limited to 10 people.

After the hearing, Parchman told a small crowd gathered inside Boucke Building his actions against the CIA were justified.

"We are proud of what we did and (if the CIA recruits here in the future) we'll do it again," he added.

Parchman also called the CIA "a terrorist organization" and quoted from a supportive letter sent to him by former CIA official Philip Agee.

"Do not be intimidated," Agee wrote. "On the contrary, assert your constitutional right against persecution and harassment by Penn State University. I support your struggle and admire your courage."

Agee visited the University last fall and spoke on campus about his experiences in the agency.

Agee, Parchman and a group of students called the CIA Off Campus Committee have stated on many occasions the agency supports "political assassinations, drug trafficking, dictatorships and terrorism."

The University Hearing Board on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. is scheduled to hear the case against Tim Fasnacht (junior-labor studies), also charged with conduct code violations during the CIA protest, Mahon said.