Penn, Francis should not be singled out

   
   
   
   
   
   
   Penn, Francis should 
   
   not be singled out 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Steven D. Penn G and Ronald W. Francis G should not face charges
   before the Committee on Discipline for their actions in the March 2
   protest. The two were brought before the COD for allegedly assaulting
   police officers by leading protesters into an elevator. But the
   surrounding circumstances make it clear that MIT is not interested in
   punishing violence, but rather in intimidating students who organize
   anti-administration protests. For this reason, the COD should refuse
   to punish Penn and Francis for their actions. 
   
   Eight students charged into the elevator in the Sloan Building, and
   all are known to the Campus Police. Yet, MIT singled out Francis and
   Penn for punishment. The two are perceived by the administration as
   protest leaders -- this is likely the only reason why they were
   charged with violations of MIT policy. 
   
   In addition, the Campus Police charge that Penn and Francis led the
   protesters into the elevator is clearly refuted by photographic
   evidence and witnesses. Indeed, Penn never even entered the elevator,
   and a photo shows that several students preceded Francis in the
   occupation. The distortions in the Campus Police complaint provide
   further evidence that Penn and Francis are not being charged for their
   actions on March 2 but for their status as protest leaders. This type
   of intimidation should not be allowed on an open university campus. 
   
   Additionally, the Committee on Discipline's lack of procedural
   safeguards makes it ill-equipped to handle this kind of case. The
   rules of evidence seem to be determined ad hoc by the committee
   chairman, Sheila E. Widnall '60; Penn claims she may not let him
   introduce the evidence which clearly exonerates him. At the same time,
   the two students are not permitted to examine any evidence collected
   by MIT, including photographs which might clear them of wrongdoing.
   Because the COD has no common sense rules of evidence or formal rules
   of procedure, any hearing on these charges will lack fundamental
   fairness. For this reason, the COD cannot give a fair hearing to this
   case and should not punish Penn and Francis. 
   

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Copyright 1990 by The Tech. All rights reserved.
This story was published on  Tuesday,  May 15, 1990.
Volume 110, Number 27
The story was printed on page  4.
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