http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=40862

WEB UPDATE: Students express anger, concern over conduct of administrators, police with YAF-sponsored event

By JOEY NOWAK
and COLLEEN MAXWELL

The State News

Students claimed Friday the arrests of five protesters at an on-campus speech given by the president of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps were a result of racial profiling. Those arrested, all of whom are Mexican American, also said police used unnecessary force during the arrests.

About 50 students gathered on the steps of the Administration Building to voice their anger and concern with how MSU administrators and police handled Thursday's event.

"We are a country that promotes free speech," said history sophomore Raul Perez, who was arrested on the felony charge of resisting and obstructing. "Everybody that is standing with me right now was exercising their right to free speech and got arrested for it."

Perez said administrators stood by and watched students get harassed.

"I want my university officials to explain to me why this keep happening to me — why I was choked by police officers," he said. "Why did it take eight police officers to take me down? I'm not that big of a guy."

MSU police Chief Jim Dunlap could not be reached for comment Friday.

The event, sponsored by MSU Young Americans for Freedom and MSU College Republicans, brought Minuteman co-founder and president Chris Simcox.

Four of those arrested are MSU students.

Two students were held on charges of resisting and obstructing and violating a university ordinance that prohibits any person from disrupting the normal operation of any properly authorized university activity.

The other three were charged only for the ordinance violation.

University spokesman Terry Denbow said any racial profiling would be "heinous."

"I know there was no profiling or targeting last night because the university would not accept that kind of attitude on the part of police or any one of us," he said. "I can be sure of that."

The students listed six demands, including removal of charges, compensation for victims, a public apology from the university and police and removal of MSU YAF and College Republicans.

"We refuse to back down until we receive all of those demands," interdisciplinary studies and community relations junior Ileana Cortez said.

To hold YAF or the College Republicans accountable, students must take the proper steps, said Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services.

"Just because a person calls for a student organization to be disbanded — we can't do that," June said. "One way is through the speaker's policy. If (a registered student organization) violates certain principles, then we can go after them there."

Students plan to file a hearing and get a meeting set up with university officials to discuss Thursday's events, social relations sophomore Doug Schraufnagle said.