The Penn State Black Caucus issued a call to action to students to claim their freedoms at a town hall meeting last night. The forum, titled "Fight for Your Student Rights," touched on issues of free speech as well as what the caucus deems as inequities in the local justice system.

Black Caucus President Hasan Amenra said the group wants justice and is always fighting for it, mentioning last month's Justice, Now More Than Ever rally as an example.

"We serve as advocates for students' rights," he said.

Black Caucus Vice President Takkeem Morgan encouraged the crowd of nearly 50 to sign petitions demanding the university create a process to change policies that "prohibit and excessively limit free speech and acts of civil disobedience including but not limited to the right of peaceful assembly."

Morgan brought up the installation of cameras in the HUB-Robeson Center. The Penn State Alumni Association put the Web cams in place in late July to allow alumni to maintain a connection with the university.

"Were you notified they would put cameras in your student union building to watch you?" Morgan asked. "Where else are the cameras?"

Assata Richards (graduate-sociology) said that the alumni should put cameras in the alumni center instead, adding that cameras were also used in the downtown riots to watch students.

"We're here to talk about students' rights," said Richards. "We feel like it's really important to talk about this in dialogue."

Mark Charran said he was suspended for a year from Penn State in connection with the riots last March. After his picture appeared in a local newspaper, he said he received death threats. After a subsequent article about him, he was arrested and came in front of the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Amenra said Charran also received threatening letters at his apartment during April's HUB-Robeson Center sit-in.ss

A common theme, repeated by several of the speakers was: "It didn't fit into their (the university's) interest at the time." It referred to the action or lack of action Black Caucus members feel the university took in different situations.

Police arrested many of the rioters but have not found those responsible for sending hate mail, Richards said.

Student activist Justin Leto (senior-computer engineering) spoke about his experience as a member of the Osmond Five, a group of students that was arrested during the National Governors' Association Annual Meeting in July 2000. They were arrested in connection with a banner being hung on the balcony of Osmond Building. Criminal charges were dropped, but they had to go through proceedings with Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs, which decided not to issue sanctions. He told those in attendance civil disobedience is often a means of accomplishing change.

"Make them drag you out of the HUB," Leto said. "What would that look like: dragging students out of the student center they paid for."