District Judge Jonathan Grine formally signed 31 criminal complaints of defiant trespass yesterday in connection with a sit-in at Old Main two weeks ago.
On April 15, 31 anti-sweatshop protestors were arrested by Penn State Police after they refused to leave Old Main when it closed at 5:30, according to the criminal complaint. The activists, who call themselves the “Penn State 31,” held the protest with the hope that Penn State President Graham Spanier would sign the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP), an anti-sweatshop labor program.
Protestor Stephanie Chapman (senior-human development and family studies), who was arrested, said last week that each charge carries a $2,500 fine or a year in jail.
Grine signed the criminal complaints filed by Penn State Police Detective Ryan Rodgers formally charging them with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor of the third degree.
In an interview earlier this month, Grine said he expected a lesser summary charge and that he did not intend to give the protestors a jail sentence.
Grine was out of the office yesterday and was not reached by press time.
The Student Organization Conduct Committee (SOCC) has also become involved with the matter, according to an e-mail sent to Doug Baldwin, one of the protesters.
SOCC’s Web site states that the organization’s job is “to hold organizations accountable for any violation of University Policy to help uphold and protect Penn State’s image and integrity,” according to www.sa.psu.edu/engage/studentorgs/socc.shtml.
SOCC, created this year, features a board of student conduct justices and faculty members.
Deb Dworsky, assistant director for the Center for Student Engagement and faculty adviser for SOCC, e-mailed United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) member Baldwin (senior-environmental resource management) asking him to schedule an appointment for a disciplinary conference regarding USAS’s involvement at the protest two weeks ago.
Baldwin, who was arrested at the sit-in, said it is unclear whether or not USAS would face any disciplinary measures from the university.
Ben Brewer (senior-Spanish), who was among those arrested two weeks ago, said he has not heard from the Office of Judicial Affairs regarding university sanctions, nor has he heard of any other individual students contacted by the Office of Judicial Affairs.
The Office of Judicial Affairs maintains the student code of conduct, though it only deals with individuals, according to its Web site.
Associate to the President for Administration Tom Poole wrote in an e-mail last night that he was unaware of Grine signing the complaints.
