Student views on 'DP' ruling run the gamut

Students were divided on whether the University was right to drop charges against nine black students involved in confiscating almost an entire press run of The Daily Pennsylvanian last semester. But most students agreed on one thing: the issue needed to come to some resolution because it was hurting the University's image. "The University wanted to let it drop rather than keeping the proceedings going," College senior Michelle Chu said. "I think it's too concerned with its image – 'Oh no, media coverage. God forbid we become a controversial campus.' " College senior Brian Lesser echoed Chu's comments. "The U. is too uptight about people standing up for what they believe in," he said. "It was making the University look bad [and] it was about time they dropped it." Though charges stemming from the April 15 incident were dropped, Interim President Claire Fagin and Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson warned that removing newspapers would not be accepted in the future. "This action violated long-held principles of freedom of the press and freedom of speech on the University of Pennsylvania campus," Fagin and Lazerson said in a statement. "We will respond vigorously to any future violations of those principles." One issue which the statement did not address – and on which students' opinions varied – was whether confiscating free newspapers is a legal form of protest or theft. "I think it's a legitimate form of protest, but other actions could have been taken," said one female student who did not want to be identified. "They had to do something to catch everyone's attention. I think it was a fair decision." "What they did was illegal," said Wendy Byrd, a College sophomore. "If I were to go do that, I would think I would be punished. It was theft." Several students called the Judicial Inquiry Office "lax," saying that the decision seemed to be only an attempt at a compromise. "They had to appease both sides," Chu said. "[They] don't want to rock the boat." "For them not to do anything is more of a symbolic thing," said Wharton and College sophomore Craig Wetten. "[It] sends the wrong message to the students." College junior Jeanette Melendez said she could see a similar protest happening again "even if it was against University policy" because of "the very nature of how this University works." She added that the University should "be proactive rather than reactive" and that "hopefully it won't have to happen again." A male graduate student who wished to remain anonymous said he agreed with Melendez. "A college campus is a haven for protest," he said.