UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State University Police have filed charges against 31 individuals who occupied and refused to leave Old Main on Tuesday, April 15. Thirty of those charged with defiant trespass are current students. Those arrested were warned verbally and in writing that they were subject to arrest if they continued to occupy the building after it closed for the night.
The occupation was a culmination of months of disruptive events that have included the use of bullhorns and chanting in the administration building, dozens of appearances in the president’s office, including dumping cards and candy on the floor, playing Wiffle ball in the lobby of Old Main, protesting in audiences during speeches and at University Board of Trustee meetings, and orchestrating massive e-mail, fax, and telephone attacks on university telecommunications systems.
The protesters demanded that Penn State support a concept called the Designated Suppliers Program (DSP), a union effort that supporters believe will protect the rights of workers in other countries who manufacture apparel.
Penn State President Graham Spanier has publicly stated on numerous occasions, and reiterated again in writing to the protesters during their occupation of Old Main, that once the DSP has been established and is functioning, the University will consider its merits.
Over the last decade, Penn State has held discussions with manufacturers, licensees, and counterparts at universities across the country about the issue of labor conditions and accountability. As part of this longstanding commitment, the University is a member of both the Worker Rights Consortium, which is sponsoring discussions of the DSP, and the Fair Labor Association. These two non-profit groups monitor labor conditions in manufacturing facilities that produce collegiate apparel.
Before their arrests, students were given an opportunity to leave the building without incident or repercussions of any kind. They also were advised of the consequences for failure to leave and told they would be in violation of Pennsylvania law. After conferring as a group, the students chose to be arrested.
Defiant trespass is a misdemeanor of the third degree under Pennsylvania law, which can carry with it fines and other punishment. Those charged in this incident may have an opportunity to receive a fine and/or apply for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, which is a pre-trial program designed to allow first-time, non-violent offenders to circumvent a trial and clear their records.
In addition, the students may face University disciplinary action through the Office of Judicial Affairs.