ACLU CALLS ON SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY TO INSURE A SAFE AND TOLERANT ENVIRONMENT IN THE WAKE OF RECENT STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS


For Immediate Release: May 17, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – In the wake of the May 7 student protests at San Francisco State University,  the ACLU of Northern California is urging the University to undertake a serious review of “its policies and practices to create an environment conducive to peaceful protest and education.”  The two May 7 demonstrations, expressing opposing views on the Middle Eastern crisis, apparently degenerated into name-calling and intimidation.  As a result, the University turned over tapes of the protests to the District Attorney’s office for possible hate crimes violations.

In an open letter sent today to the President of the University, Robert Corrigan, the ACLU says: “It is critically important for the university to have policies and procedures in place for separating counter-demonstrations and protecting all participants, especially in view of the volatile nature of the issue – and the clashes that have occurred elsewhere during recent Middle East demonstrations.”

Alan Schlosser, Legal Director of the ACLU of Northern California, said, “ It is imperative that the University, which has one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation, take positive steps towards creating a safe, welcoming and tolerant learning environment at San Francisco State.” 

The ACLU urges the University to provide opportunities to explore and discuss the Middle East conflict within an open and safe environment.